Mixed views from residents, workers and shoppers in other Westminsters

For many people, the election could mean changes in taxes, immigration, the cost of living and many other areas that affect people and their daily lives.

West Bromwich is one of the constituencies that has already seen a change, with a change in parliamentary boundaries meaning that only one West Bromwich seat will be contested, after West Bromwich East and West Bromwich West were contested in the 2019 election .

The effects of the election and the candidates who will be elected will be felt on roads such as Westminster Road, located in an area on the edge of the city center with schools, shops and lots of housing.

For those people who live, work and shop on the road, the upcoming election has been either a time for change or more of the same, with several saying they don’t feel like much will change.

Martin Pearce from Wednesbury was due to get some supplies from Oscott Pets at the top of the road but the 60-year-old said he was not particularly interested in the election as he felt it would be the same whoever won.

He said: “I’m not really interested in all that because whoever comes in, it’s going to be more of the same and I don’t know what issues particularly affect me at the moment because I’m not politically minded.

“I suppose what would be good would be to pay less taxes because we all want less taxes, but I don’t think that’s going to happen if anyone comes in, there’s going to be taxes and more taxes.”

Further along the road, resident Jackie Blundell said she would vote but the 59-year-old customer service worker said she felt there was not much difference between the two governing parties or that she would enough to change things.

She said: “I just feel there’s no choice between the two parties and they’re exactly the same and I don’t want to vote for either of them to be honest.

“In terms of issues, the cost of living is a big thing and the crime around here is an absolute nightmare at times. West Bromwich town center was a great place when I was a kid and you could go there and have a drink and everyone knew each other, but you wouldn’t go there now.

“I don’t see it making any difference after the election because the parties are the same, developing different policies which they will never do when they get into power and I think Kier Starmer has no charisma and is nobody. I would like to vote.

“Rishi Sunak, I don’t want to vote because the Tories have had enough time and have done absolutely nothing and I don’t think either party has done anything for the country in the last 20 years.”

At the Chip Box at the top of Westminster Road, manager Mukhdar Singh said he wanted to see good people as politicians and felt the current government had made a mess.

He said: “For me if people are good people and make good politicians then that will be good for the country because everybody is struggling at the moment and the country is a real mess at the moment whereas 10 years ago , it was very good.

“I can’t say whether a change of government would bring about change because it depends on the parties and what they think, but my view is that many of them have done it for themselves rather than for the country and the parties.

“I just want to see good people who put people first get elected.”

One issue that dominated the conversation and debate around the election was the issue of illegal immigration, which Stuart Stanley, 60, wanted to see resolved.

He said: “I think the country is on its knees at the moment with all the illegal immigrants coming in without ID and we don’t know who they are and they get benefits straight away.

“I will definitely be voting on Thursday and I am voting for reform because Nigel Farage is basically telling the truth while nobody else is answering questions and he is coming out and telling it like it is.

“For me it depends on who wins the election if things change because I think Labor will come in but I don’t think it will change because I think they and the Tories are the same thing and have been for as long as I’ve been alive. “