“They have not done anything particularly wrong.”Fellow pupil Michelle felt the economy was an important factor in the Tories winning her support. Tony Blair’s leadership was a factor in his views.But, of those who had made up their minds, most veered towards the status quo.Luke Davis, 18, a student at New College, said: “With Labour we would be going into the realms of the unknown.” Tim Halmshaw said the Conservatives would also get his vote. Michelle Oldfield, 18, from Arrow Vale, said: “I think we are going to integrate more with Europe, so we are not left behind.”Some of The Independent’s group, though in the minority, had decided which way they would vote.Richard Walker, 19, a bartender, said he would almost certainly be voting Labour “I think it’s time for a change,” he said. “I think it would be bad for the country.”However, there is a general acceptance of, and in some cases support for, closer European ties. However, for those who did mention Europe and the single currency there was an underlying euro-scepticism – with a small `e’.Adam Browne, 18, another pupil at Arrow Vale, has not made up his mind whether, or for whom, to vote, but he is sure of his mind on Europe “I do not want a single currency,” he said. Europe, the issue that excites so much national debate, was barely raised as an influence on how people would vote. Iain, 18 in February, said: “I’m not that keen on Major, he doesn’t seem to have much of a personality at all.”Apart from education, few issues dominate the imagination of the first- time voters.

Alice Melvin, 21, who works at the town’s ABC cinema, thought him “quite nice, a decent bloke”.However, a significant minority concurred with Iain Farquhar’s view of the Prime Minister. Robert Bishop, 19, a student reading combined studies, thought him “likeable”. “New Labour seem to have a lot of ideas, but whether they will follow them through is another thing.”John Major generally fared better than Tony Blair, and better than the Tory Party in general. he seems to be saying anything he can to get in.” Mr Blair was, said Tim, akin to a “salesman”.His fellow pupil Sarah Cox, 18 on Boxing Day, is also doubtful. “He’s too smarmy isn’t he?” This was not last reference to the S-word among our group.Tim Halmshaw, 18, also from Arrow Vale, said: “Tony Blair seems to be full of ideas, but … “Blair is too much like a Conservative, it’s all just propaganda.” But if Andrew did vote it would be for Labour.This reluctant support for Tony Blair is quite widespread and may represent a real worry for his party.Ian Wright, 19, a floor manager at McDonald’s in the town, has little time for Mr Blair. “I think I will make a deliberate choice not to vote – I do not think the parties offer me anything.” The Conservatives he regards as “pretty disgusting”, a party that likes to make moral postures but “does not have a leg to stand on”.Nor is there much warmth for Tony Blair’s New Labour.

“I think whichever party gets in, nothing will change that much for the better.” He added: “I’m not even sure if I’ll vote.”The move towards abstention, in some cases as a deliberate protest vote, in others as a sign of indifference, seems a powerful one.Andrew Davies, 19, an A-level student at Arrow Vale High School, typifies the view. “[At 18] you get all the help you need but when you’re 19 you don’t get much assistance from the Government and next year’s going to be much harder,” she said.But this is where the link between issues and policies is broken for many of the first-timers; many do not know know who stands for what or what the different policies might be.Sam McMahon, 20, a university student in Redditch for the Christmas holidays, is blunt about his cynicism. “It’s the bickering that puts me off, I mean, what is the point of it?”As an 18-year-old taking business studies at North East Worcestershire College (New College) her main concern is understandably education and how to make ends meet next year. Her opinion of political parties and of Westminster practices can be neatly summed up in one brief expression: a plague on all their houses.”I think politicians should stop arguing and try to agree more and offer something together,” she said.