Should engineering-related matters, such as the economic health of manufacturing or choices on energy policy, be an issue in the general election? Or should such topics not be the subject of party politics?
Choices of energy policy should certainly be on the Agenda. How can we lead the world with a low carbon economy when we don’t have a coherent plan, of government led investment or commitment by the government to underwrite investment... Big investments in new and uncertain technology will not happen in a free market unless companies can see a future on their return. Perhaps the answer is a state backed investment fund where individuals can invest in clean technology, companies can raise finance to build infrastructure and the risk is taken by the treasury? If the banks can be publicly funded at arms length why not clean energy.
John Bentley, Andover, Hants
Having strong policies to help salvage manufacturing is to me an essential manifesto requirement. I would like to hope that all the mass coverage of economic issues that surrounded the bank failures and would have given Joe Public a better understanding of the differences between 'real' economic activity and the financial sector and made people worry enough to demand substantial support for our industrial sectors.
John Buchanan, Maldon, Essex
Politicians in the way they have behaved over their expenses have shown they are incapable of creating and keeping to simple rules.
Therefore it essential that complex matters like energy policy are not decided by the game of party politics, it is just too difficult for them to cope with.
Far better to leave to engineers and scientists who are used to solving difficult problems in an honest pragmatic way
John Hopkins, Potterton, Aberdeen
They are obviously political as they directly affect the health of UK plc. The politicians need to push them up the agenda - they are more important than Gordon getting cross now and again.
Jim Noakes, Kettering, Northants
It should definitely be an issue as it's important to many people but it would take too long to explain to the current government what British manufacturing is as they seem to have lost the concept of it...!
Jamie Abson, Tyldesley, Manchester
As an Engineer I feel that the health of our manufacturing and power generation industries is critical to the underlying well-being of our country. Therefore I think less of any political party that ignores what I consider to be the fundamentals of running a good, well balanced and healthy country. It seems to me that Engineering and manufacturing is the bedrock upon which any solid economy and therefore country is built. It should be a major issue for everyone - unfortunately I don't expect to hear anything from any of the parties on this subject.
Justin Gardner, Studley, Warks
Such issues should be a key differentiator between party's i.e. each party's focus and varying priorities on the energy mix between nuclear, wind and improved domestic energy efficiency and in turn the integration to UK manufacturing to supply and build them.
These will directly affect the country's energy supply and the health of the UK economy i.e. do we pay non UK companies to import our electricity and goods or build and operate ourselves with the associated benefits in security of supply, provision of jobs and the boost to the economy?
Iain Morris, London
Engineering is inextricably linked with the economy and the ability of the UK to operate as a modern democracy. To avoid power cuts, a decline in the infrastructure or a never-ending balance of trade deficit, engineering expertise is required. As such, at a macro level it is necessary that engineering related matters are subject to political influence and thus the forthcoming election.
Jon Baggs, Dean Villiage, Edinburgh
Real issues, including engineering and manufacturing, should be at the heart of the general election debate but they will probably be a footnote at the bottom of a manifesto. Unfortunately the headlines and policies will still be dominated by transient issues that capture the minuscule attention span of a celebrity obsessed general public.
James Adamson, Aberdeen
Yes they should as political goodwill and understanding has a significant impact on these subjects. Engineering in Britain is considered a "second class" area as a result of political positioning over the years and our manufacturing industry now suffers as a consequence.
John Smythe, Wantage, Oxfordshire
It is vital that we understand party views on manufacturing and energy policy. The current government has come late to the view that manufacturing matters and is starting to try and adjust the wheels of government to be more interventionalist. The next government, of whatever colour, needs to keep this momentum going. It is not a laughing matter!
Jon King, Southam, Warwickshire
Unfortunately through the short-termism of governments we are at a point where these are major issues which have to be top of our political agenda. We need to be generally self sufficient in primary industries and in energy production both for own security and to develop this knowledge based economy on which we are to rely on. Governments seem to forget that we need to develop expertise by doing things so we can sell the knowledge around the world.
Jim Blanchard, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Yes they should but the campaign will be fought in short newspaper headlines rather than what's right, so being photographed slobbering over Cheryl Cole will count for more than having a strategy to keep the lights on during this decade. Policy on engineering related issues should be made on a sound moral basis and be based on minimal suffering rather than on greed. As part of the electorate that should be the basis of our scrutiny of politicians, based on principled behaviour.
Jonathan Wood, Stockton Heath, Warrington
I think it was the PM last week who said they should support 'new' industry while, at the same time, another steel works is closed down. Clearly industry is the stuff of politics, but what is the matter with 'old' industry if that means making things we need? It is time the true cost of imported, often inferior goods, were reckoned alongside unemployment and UK plc's self-sufficiency. What is 'new' industry anyway?
John Hadland, Great Glen, Leicester
Unfortunately, owing to the long term decline of manufacturing, not enough people recognise that persistence with backing a flaky looking finance sector rather than investing in manufacturing is a critical issue for the UK economy and the parties seem to be able to get away with ducking the issue.
Jon Tyrie, Guisborough
These subjects should be high on the political agenda. However, Manufacturing does not make great vote grabbing headline news unless it's redundancies, and then it's too late and the energy debate won't make the headlines either as the election will be in the summer when there is plenty of energy about; no 'Gas Running Out' headlines in the summer, might be a glorious summer and then the wind turbines might not work!!! If either of these subjects became part of party politics it wouldn't be of any use as the politicians would only want to use them to make their own gains and not for the good of either the public or the manufacturers.
Ian Millhouse, Hessle
As an engineer, I wish that our politicians took at heart the debacle of the manufacturing industry in England, not to villainise plant relocations to 'cheaper' countries or to blame UK-based companies, but more to help understand what the needs are and what difference we can make in the industry as a country. I also believe that energy policy is a vital element of our short term survival: if we make the right choices, we might still be able to compete with the Asian nations in the near future, but if not, then I doubt that we will ever catch up. A very good example of this realisation is Barack Obama's recent drive to reduce drastically car emissions in the USA...
Jeremy Lambert, Coventry