People across Britain are putting up political posters, making online videos and handing out flyers. They've swung into campaign mode for an election that will decide who leads their nation.
Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking a second term. He says the ruling Conservative Party has put the economy on a sound footing and slashed debt. But his Labour challenger, Ed Miliband, says the gap between the rich and poor is getting bigger. Miliband is promising to beef up medical and social welfare services.
The candidates have been trading blows over a sensitive topic. Cameron wants to hold a national referendum to decide whether Britain should leave the EU. Miliband says that would devastate the economy.
Their parties are neck-and-neck in the polls. Politicians in smaller parties are enjoying a groundswell of support from voters dissatisfied with the two main rivals. Some polls show members of the Scottish National Party are likely to win around 50 seats, up from just six. The party is calling for Scotland to split from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Voters go to the polls on May 7th to choose 650 members of the House of Commons, or the lower house of Parliament.
◆hand out 配る
◆swung into ～に勢いよく入る
◆term 任期
◆footing 足場、地位、状態
◆slash 削減する
◆beef up 増強する、拡大させる
◆trade blows over ～を巡って応酬する
◆referendum 国民投票、住民投票
◆devastate 荒廃させる、壊滅させる
◆neck-and-neck 接戦の、互角の
◆groundswell 高まり
