Ahead of the General Election on May 7 The Guardian asked the people of Walthamstow what issues mattered most to them.

Peter Carter, 51, of Forest Road is a recovering drug addict and is concerned about drugs policy.

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Peter Carter

“I am registered as disabled and have struggled to find housing or support so have had to move in with my grandmother.

“I have been clean for 19 months the longest period in 30 years and that is down to abstinence based recovery from a Christian charity that isn’t currently funded by the Government.

“They need to change their regulations on this. State-sponsored methadone does not make the problem go away.”

Lisa Donaldson, 40, from High Street is a working mother concerned about access to childcare.

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Lisa Donaldson

She said: “The Government always say they want to people to get back to work but they do not provide the access to quality childcare that will allow people to.

“Nurseries are expensive, yet most people who work there are young and on minimum wage.

“For some parents then it is not viable to work and stay and look after their kids to save money which is a great loss to the economy and the workforce.

Tomas Kowacski, 36, is from Poland but has lived in Ruby Road for two years, after arriving not being able to speak a word of English.

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Tomas Kowacski

He said: “Rent is too high and must be brought back into control. Me and my brother have to share a room to split rent.

“It is not like we are close to central London but we are paying those prices, everything is so expensive here.

“Once you pay rent it is hard to even buy food but I like David Cameron, he is not a problem for me.”

Lameesa Nelson, 18, from George Monoux College in Chingford Road was concerned at the state of education.

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Lameesa Nelson

She said: “Education is too hard. Our teachers have tough targets to reach and this puts a lot of pressure on us.

“I believe in education but not institutionalised education, you go to college, you get your degrees and somehow you still end up working in a supermarket."

Sally Jones, Haverly Road, 24 a working mother said she was completely disenfranchised with the election.

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Sally Jones

She said: “No I don’t want to vote. Politicians always say what they can to get into power but nothing ever changes, it just gets worse.

“They are taking away child tax credit the cuts are ridiculous and people I know from working in a nursery, the families I meet are struggling to survive.”

Kirsty Baxter, 27 of Fulbourne Road said that wages must be increased.

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Kirsty Baxter

She said: “The cost of living is really hard at the moment.

“The Lib Dems have spoken about introducing a London Living Wage but they lost my vote by joining a coalition with the Tories.

“I am also sick of immigration being used as a negative. We the British invented immigration through our Empire.”