WORCESTER Woman has backed Tony Blair to see off criticism over the Iraq war and win the race for Number 10.

Fran Richman - identified nationally as the typical swing voter Labour had to woo to win office in 1997 - remains steadfast in her support for the Prime Minister.

With just a day to go before the general election, she dismissed the latest controversy surrounding the decision to take the country to war and hopes he will win.

"It's done. If you elect a government, you are electing them to make difficult decisions," said the 49-year-old.

"If we are going to question everything a government does on big and tough decisions, are any of us going to stand up and say we wouldn't have done the same?

"I want to give Tony Blair another four or five years before he actually finishes - I'd rather see it through with him, with the continuity and stability we've had."

Mike Foster, Worcester's Labour candidate, agreed with Mrs Richman, claiming the war would have little impact on the vote in the city.

"It's very difficult to say because they don't just vote on one issue, they vote on a whole range, and they may have reservations on the war but they may feel we've done greatly in schools so people can make a judgement on that basis," he said.

Margaret Harper, the city's Conservative candidate, added: "Last week we heard more about why we went to war and a few people were saying it was another reason they wouldn't trust Tony Blair but that's subsided now.

"It's the rest of the issues, like violent crime and immigration, that are topping people's concerns."

But Liberal Democrat hopeful Mary Dhonau was more confident the war would sway voters in her direction.

"One woman said she would rather cut off her own arm than vote for Tony Blair because of the Iraq war," she said.

"Last week, when it suddenly erupted, the mood changed and someone chased me down the street saying they would vote for me because of the Lib Dem's anti-war stance."

Mrs Richman, from Warndon Villages, added that she was disappointed the parties had not focused on issues about personal responsibility, including anti-social behaviour, obesity and binge drinking.

"It's been a poor campaign," she said.

Animals' suffering is worse says Luff

ANIMAL suffering has been increased by the hunting ban because more foxes are shot and wounded, according to research published this month by Peter Luff's Middle Way Group.

The study found that, where foxes were shot, up to 50 per cent were wounded without being killed.

The research was commissioned in response to the hunting ban, which was finally forced into law last November after years of pressure from Mike Foster.

Mr Luff said: "This just goes to show how much Mike Foster has done for animal welfare.

"He's actually made animal suffering worse, which I said would happen."

The study is published this month in Animal Welfare, the journal of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, and undermines claims that hunting with hounds causes suffering.

It has been peer-reviewed and accepted as scientific research.

UCW students go radio ga ga with candidates

STUDENTS at the University College Worcester had the chance to grill the city's main parliamentary candidates yesterday morning.

Residents were also given the opportunity to ask questions in the live radio broadcast by BBC Hereford and Worcester between 9am to 10am.

Margaret Harper (Conservative), Michael Foster (Labour), Mary Dhonau (Liberal Democrat), Richard Chamings (UKIP) and Prudence Dowson (Independent) and Chris Lennard, Green, were all put in the spotlight.

"This was a wonderful opportunity for students and the people of Worcester to have their say so close to the General Election," said a spokesman for UCW.

UCW did not invite Martin Roberts, of the BNP, to participate.

Church does its

bit in campaign

THE Church in Hereford has been doing its bit for the General Election by holding regular meets with parliamentary candidates.

The hustings were just a part of its contribution to the General Election campaign locally.

"We have been at the forefront of encouraging people to confront the issues and most importantly to go out and vote," said Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford.

"We have also made it possible for voters to meet and question their candidates in nearly every one of the seven seats in this diocese."

Bishop Anthony issued a letter to all parishioners, giving them his guidance on what he felt was important.

Alliance

members

in plot

for votes

LEADING figures in the Countryside Alliance have been revealed as being involved in setting up an organisation to evict Worcester parliamentary candidate Mike Foster and other anti-hunting Labour MPs.

The Guardian newspaper reported that it has seen a transcript of a telephone conversation involving members of the alliance, which is meant to be politically non-aligned.

In this call, participants discuss how the new group would send thousands of canvassers into marginal rural seats.

The volunteers would work in support of mainly Conservative candidates and would disguise the fact they are pro-hunt.

Labour MP Mike Foster was mentioned by name as a target although the group, called Vote OK, has identified 139 MPs it is working to remove.

Mr Foster said the links between the Countryside Alliance and Vote OK had always been hinted at, and said it was up to voters to decide which way they went.

"It is not news that I am a target, although The Guardian does seem to now have proof of links between the two groups," he said.

"If people want to keep the hunting ban, they will vote for Labour, if they don't they will vote for Conservative. It goes back to that basic issue again.

"I just hope that once the election is over, this can be resolved one way or another for good."

Minister's last-ditch appeal

A GOVERNMENT minister has visited Worcester to make a last-ditch appeal to voters.

Alan Johnson, responsible for work and pensions, launched a new poster warning Labour supporters to turn out and vote on Thursday.

A giant election billboard - featuring a picture of Conservative leader Michael Howard that morphs into Margaret Thatcher - claimed that if one in 10 Labour backers did not vote the Tories would win the election.

"This is a reaction to the kind of approach Tories have which is incredible - I've never seen a political party going round stirring up apathy," said Mr Johnson.

He criticised Mr Howard for 'making people think they don't need to vote at all' by claiming his party was '2-0 behind' in the election.