Our panel of voters

BUSINESSMAN
Charlie Mullins, 50, from Pimlico

HE believes he wasted his vote on Ken Livingstone last time.
The managing director of Pimlico Plumbers is disappointed in the Mayor's performance on business and is now being swayed towards Tory candidate Boris Johnson.
A father-of-four and grandfather-of-six, Mr Mullins wants more apprenticeships and training. His wife Lynda and oldest son Scott, 31, work for the family firm. But Mr Mullins feels many young people are left out.
He said: "Mr Livingstone doesn't listen to people that matter, just his inner circle. He spends money on things like festivals instead of what London really needs. Boris has sat down and met businesses face to face. He promised more training centres and development and to take crime off the streets."

FUND MANAGER
Laura Wilson, 28, from Shepherd's Bush

SHE has not noticed major improvements under Ken Livingstone and is yet to be convinced by Boris Johnson.
The property analyst with CB Richard Ellis Investors says the candidate who can make the Tube run all night stands the best chance of winning her vote. She is also concerned about crime.
"One way of making London safer would be to make it a 24-hour society," said Ms Wilson.
"It's no good just having this theory of 24-hour licensing but not having night-time Tubes or 24-hour restaurants and cafés. I worked in New York and felt much safer there." She has not written off Mr Livingstone but wants improved public transport, saying: "The buses have got better but some Tube lines are not reliable." She added: "I'm not sure if Boris has very credible policies."

PENSIONER
Bridget Sam-Bailey, 71, from Lewisham

THIS Labour supporter is wondering if it is time for a change.
The former business studies teacher, who has a 31-year-old son, says she is "hardline" Labour but is concerned about the safety of public transport.
She has experienced abuse from young people on buses and wants to see more monitoring of misbehaviour among youths. She said: "I like the Freedom Pass [which allows the over-sixties free travel], but I would like to see more action when it comes to the elderly and public transport. It can be very intimidating even to sit on a bus. What has impressed me about Ken is the way he deals with the elderly — he does care about Londoners. He is also very inclusive and an advocate of London's diversity. But maybe there should be a set length of time you can be in office because you can get stale." She added: "Boris has a lot of work to do to convince me and all I know about [Lib-Dem candidate] Brian Paddick is that he was the Cannabis Cop' in Lambeth."

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
Mark Wilkinson, 32, from Chiswick

HE knew who he was going to vote for on 1 May — until Ken Livingstone unveiled a plan to make "gas-guzzling" cars pay a £25 congestion charge.
The property investor, who works for KnightFrank, believes the Mayor is penalising people who drive small cars as well as so-called Chelsea tractors.
He said: "I drive an Audi A4 convertible. It is not a huge 4x4 and just because I drive it does in no way mean I can afford to pay the £25 charge. I reckon there are a lot of readers who are unaware the car they drive will be charged."
Mr Wilkinson, who is about to complete his fifth property purchase, is a former Labour voter who says he is now a floating one. Boris Johnson? "I just don't think he's particularly credible. He's a fun person but it's a lot of work and I don't think he's dedicated enough."

CHARITY WORKER
Lynette Charles, 39, from Willesden

This mother of two girls aged 19 and 14 says Ken Livingstone has not met the needs of Londoners. In her opinion, he started well but lost momentum.
She is worried about how young people are treated. "I appreciate education isn't the Mayor's remit, but even so I'd like to see him putting pressure on the Government," said Mrs Charles.
"The problem for young people is there is often no incentive for them to do well. There are not enough facilities.
"Most young people are decent, hard- working kids yet too often they are portrayed in a bad light. The Mayor needs to be doing more. He needs to be talking to community leaders and working better with gangs, as well as introducing proper rehabilitation while young people are locked up."

FIRST-TIME VOTER
Rabia Barkatullah, 21, from Cricklewood

The freelance translator wants bus and Tube travel to be made free for people studying full-time as she is considering a postgraduate degree.
She is impressed with Ken Livingstone's congestion charge as a measure against pollution, but is still to be convinced by Boris Johnson's messages on transport and environment.
Miss Barkatullah, who plans to set up home with her accountant fiancé, said: "When I was doing my degree I was living in Zone 3 and students just can't afford that kind of money, so I would be impressed by anyone who says they will give students free travel. Another issue is pollution, which ties in with making public transport cheaper and better." She said the Mayor had "proved people wrong" on many issues but he would still have to work hard to win her vote. As for Mr Johnson: "My first impressions are that he is a bit stuffy. I don't know who else is running."

MEDIA WORKER
Emma Priestley, 28, from Shepherd's Bush

She describes herself as a "traditional" Labour voter who should be supporting Ken Livingstone. But she said: "In this election I think it's more about the candidate than which party they're representing. It is an open race."
Ms Priestley, a production manager at Sledge Film in Shepherd's Bush, who shares a rented flat, believes Mr Livingstone has been a figurehead for London but says it may be time for change. "It is so important London has a visible leader," she said. "Boris Johnson might be able to do that but he does come across as a bit of a caricature, so I will have to be impressed by his policies.
"What will sway it for me is if one of them promises to address the issue of late-night transport and crime.
"I've been here 18 months after moving from Manchester yet I have been mugged once and assaulted once. I had my handbag snatched when I was getting off a bus late at night and I'd really like to see the environment around bus stops made safer. The buses are pretty clean but waiting for them can be intimidating."

STUDENT
Will Barber, 22, from Islington

A politics student at the London School of Economics, he sees the environment and cutting emissions as one of the most important issues for London.
Mr Barber, who lives in student flats, is leaning towards the Lib-Dems but may be swayed by the Green Party.
He thinks Ken Livingstone's best achievements have been the congestion charge and better buses but believes it is time for change.
He said: "The environment is an important issue to me so I applaud what he has done but I am a believer in fixed terms and would like to have seen an alternative candidate. Boris is well known but more of a mascot than a credible leader."