It is just 99 days until voters go to the polls in what is the arguably the most unpredictable General Election in a generation.

Watford is among the most tightly contested seats in the country as Conservative MP Richard Harrington faces a fierce battle to retain his place representing the town in the House of Commons.

He is being challenged by Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill (Liberal Democrat) Watford Borough Councillor Matt Turmaine (Labour) and UKIP’s Nick Lincoln. The Green party is yet to announce a candidate.

A Lord Ashcroft poll in November - which asked residents which prospective constituency candidate they would vote for - had the Tories in front (30 percent) just two clear of the Lib Dems (28) with Labour in third (24), UKIP fourth (14) and the Greens trailing in fifth (three percent).

Looking at the national picture, the Ashcroft poll had the Tories on 34 percent, followed by Labour (28), UKIP (17), the Lib Dems (15) and finally the Greens on five percent.

The four prospective parlimentary candidates wrote the following short statements about what they intend to do for Watford should they win your vote and the election on May 7.

(This ballot closes at 1.30pm on Friday, January 30 2015)

Richard Harrington MP, Conservative: “My plan for Watford is to continue to build a strong economy that supports jobs.

“We’ve made fantastic progress since 2010; unemployment has halved in Watford and 400 new businesses have opened, but there is always more to do.

“I will host my fifth jobs fair in the summer, introducing employers to job seekers or those looking to change roles and encouraging new firms to move here.

“I will continue to push for investment in Watford’s public services. Since 2010, 2,500 new school places have been funded and four wards have opened at the hospital.

“But we need more new schools and the resources for NHS staff to put their new health strategy into action.

“I will secure further investment in infrastructure. To build on the success of the Met Line extension and hospital road, Watford Junction must be redeveloped and linked up to Crossrail. Bushey station and the Abbey Line must be improved too.

“This election is incredibly important to Watford and Britain’s future, but I won’t be going into election mode too early.

“Being our town’s MP is a full-time job and I will be concentrating on representing residents and securing the best deal for Watford in Parliament.”

Dorothy Thornhill, Liberal Democrat: “I’m the only candidate with a proven track record over many years of making a difference in Watford.

“I have lived and worked here all my adult life as a teacher and for the last thirteen years as Mayor.

“With me, what you see is what you get. I can't pretend to be something I'm not, promise the impossible or pretend that there is a simple answer to everything when all my experience tells me that Watford's ‘big issues’ are complex and entrenched.

“I’ve worked tirelessly, taken tough decisions, upset some allotment holders to ensure that our hospital trust have the land they need to be able to improve health services for all of us.

“It’s not about more money, although only the Liberal Democrats have agreed to fund the £8bn that the NHS chief has said is necessary to avert crisis.

“Instead of every new government playing musical chairs and restructuring the NHS and its processes we need to have a mature national discussion about how we all can make our NHS fit for purpose for the 21st century.

“What I can do is take my experience, knowledge and passion and be a strong voice for Watford in Westminster.”

Matt Turmaine, Labour: “My number one priority is to secure the modernisation of our hospital. “When my daughter was born there, I witnessed the dedication of all those who work in the NHS shining through. Everyone delivers world-class health care.

“However, for the last five years, they, you and my family have been let down after the plans drawn up by Labour to modernise the hospital were torn up by the present government. I will cut the talk and actually deliver the Health Campus at long last.

“I have the advantage of not being a professional politician, so as your full-time MP I can bring real life experience to bear.

“It is vital the cost-of living crisis is tackled. I’ll back an immediate energy price freeze to stop us all being ripped-off.

“I’ll work tirelessly for an economic recovery that’s fair for all, where everyone sees the benefit. “I will help cut the deficit in a tough but balanced way. Tax cuts for the super-rich are out - instead I want a tax cut for 24 million people.

“Unlike the Liberal Democrats, I can promise you I won’t prop up a Conservative government. I‘m the positive change you’ll only get by voting Labour.”

Nick Lincoln, UKIP: “The health campus fiasco needs to be sorted.

“Our membership of the EU costs £55,000,000 a day - on leaving the EU some of this money could be spent on improving our hospitals.

“Watford has been a building site in the last 15 years, with new high density estates all over town.

“As long as net annual migration into the UK continues at over 260,000 - equivalent to the population of three Watfords - we will always have a housing shortage. We must regain control of our borders.

“Watford has always been a place of commerce and start up businesses. UKIP is the party of small business.

“We will help the small business sector by massively reducing the endless supply of regulations, simplifying our bloated tax system’s labyrinthine rules, and reducing the tax burden.

“I am committed to helping Watford’s rail commuters. The HS2 project will see a massive, decade long redevelopment of Euston.

“This will have a direct impact on our commuters who travel into and out of London.

“The estimated cost of HS2 is £46 billion. As the only party opposed to HS2 we believe some of that money should be spent on improving our existing rail infrastructure.”