From failing economy to immigration: Key issues which dominate unpredictable Britain polls

London: Three issues — the economy, the National Health Service and immigration — have dominated the British election. Here’s where the candidates stand on the things that matter to voters: THE ECONOMY ABOVE ALL The election boils down to a simple question: Did the Conservative-led government chart the right course through the aftermath of the economic crisis — the worst recession since the 1930s? Prime Minister David Cameron has focused on headline numbers after five years of budget cuts designed to shrink the deficit and bolster growth. Inflation is down, employment is up and the economy is growing at one of the fastest rates among large industrialized nations. [caption id=“attachment_2232618” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Labour Party Ed Miliband. Reuters[/caption] The Conservatives argue they need time to cement the gains and ensure the benefits trickle down to everyone. They promise no new income or value-added taxes. Opposition leader Ed Miliband is urging voters to look deeper, arguing the topline figures don’t tell the whole story. Real wages are below pre-crisis levels, employment figures have been inflated by low-skill jobs, and rising numbers of people are turning to food banks to make ends meet. Miliband has focused the debate on inequality, saying the recovery hasn’t reached working families. He’s promising to increase taxes on the wealthiest members of society. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE The state-funded NHS is a source of pride in this nation of 64 million — and a source of agony for political leaders struggling to pay the ever-increasing bill. The most sacrosanct issue in British politics, leaders spent much of the campaign making promises to save the service. Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, has promised to recruit 8,000 more doctors and 20,000 more nurses, paying the bill with a tax on properties worth more than 2 million pounds ($3 million). The Conservatives promise to increase spending by at least 8 billion pounds by 2020 and cut down on so-called health tourism, in which migrants travel to the UK for medical care paid for by British taxpayers. IMMIGRATION Britain’s growing economy has attracted thousands of migrants from the European Union, particularly from the former eastern bloc countries that have recently joined the 28-nation free-trade zone. The influx is changing Britain and straining schools, hospitals and other public services. The UK Independence Party has capitalized on the outrage of unhappy Britons. The once-fringe party stands third in opinion polls after promising to leave the European Union, “take back control of our borders” and restrict immigration to skilled workers needed by the British economy. Labour plans to ban recruitment agencies from hiring only from overseas and crack down on employers that abuse workers. The Conservatives say they will reduce migration from other EU states by making it harder for recent immigrants to claim benefits. The party says it has an “ambition” to reduce annual net migration to less than 100,000 from almost 300,000 in the 12 months through September. Associated Press