Feature: Britons go to polls to seal fate of politicians on election day

Early bird voters, many of them on their way to work, kick-started the British general election day on Thursday as 50,000 voting stations opened at 7 a.m. local time.

In what has been described as the most unpredictable British election in living memory, a handful of issues have dominated the campaigns.

Although Britain's membership of the European Union (EU), flagship cause of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), was one issue, it was greatly overshadowed by the main concerns of Britons: the economy, welfare reforms, the future of the National Health Service (NHS) and rising immigration.

In quintessential British fashion, many of the voting stations are unusual venues, ranging from the world's oldest football stadium, a launderette, hairdressing salons and even a school bus.

By 10 p.m. Thursday when the polling stations close, around 65 per cent of the almost 50 million entitled to vote are expected to have done so.

In 2010 the average turn-out was 65.1 percent, but in a handful of places, mainly inner-city constituencies, only around half turned out.

One of those constituencies with a low-turnout was Liverpool Riverside. Although it is a Labor Party stronghold, one of the hopefuls fighting to win is London based lawyer and Conservative candidate Jackson Ng.

Ng, 31, told Xinhua: "I am one of 11 ethnic-Chinese candidates - the highest number ever - taking part in the general election. It's my first attempt at winning a political seat in the British Parliament and I am delighted the constituency I want to represent includes Liverpool Chinatown, the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

"My interest in politics started when I became aware as a lawyer of disproportionate and unfair immigration raids. I felt the Chinese community needed a voice, both legally and politically."

Throughout the night thousands of election staff will count every vote, with candidates learning their fates in the early hours of Friday.

With all the predictions anticipating no single party will gain enough seats to form a majority government, leading managers of the main parties are already engaged in behind-the-scenes "horse-trading" to decide the make-up of the next British Government. It is a process that could take several days before Queen Elizabeth II plays her part by inviting a party leader to form her government.

Meanwhile in cities, towns and villagers a non-stop stream of people headed to polling stations to decide the fate of those seeking to win.

Outside a polling station in Liverpool that was once a police station, voters told Xinhua how they voted.

First time voter Jessica Norton, 19, voted Labor saying: "I am a drama student and they have the best policies for arts."

Francesca Middleton, 46, divided her political loyalties, voting Labor for the General Election and Green in the local council elections.

She said: "I support the Green Party but many of my friends who normally support Labor said they would be voting UKIP, so I voted Labor to try to keep UKIP out. The last thing I want to see running the country is a Conservative UKIP coalition."

Megan Dowd, 24, voted Green saying: "People say a Green vote is a wasted vote but I disagree. They are the most trustworthy party and focus on climate change and the environment. For me the worse thing would be a coalition between Conservatives and UKIP. That would be evil."

Jonathan Wharton, 41, voted Labor saying the key issues for him were the high number of food banks and austerity.

"Foreign policy has been completely neglected during the campaigning, hardly mentioned at all. They did talk about nuclear submarines, but that is a side issue compared to foreign policy," he said.

Mike Neary, 47, also backed Labor saying: "I would like to see a Labor majority but I can cope with a coalition if I have to. The campaign in most of the media has been steeped in Cameron's favor." Endit