Here, on the day Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the date of the election, the 11 panellists write for the first time.

Michael Marley: Perth "The future of Great Britain is now at a crossroads" David Hamilton: Glasgow "My politics are split over almost everything" Stephen Edenborough: Paisley "Government is too big and needs to be reined in" Jim Monaghan: Glasgow "Labour do make mistakes, but who doesn't?" Jennifer Mackay: St Andrews "Liberal Democrat Party policies just make sense" Bob Crozier: Larbert "Why shouldn't the better off pay for NHS treatment?"

Michelle Hunt: Sorn, East Ayrshire "The SNP don't seem frightened to speak out" Olivia Drennan: Glasgow "The SSP represents a radical alternative to other parties" Duncan King: Edinburgh "I would love to see what the Scottish Greens can do at Westminster" Keith Brockie: Edinburgh "North Sea Oil should be invested in Scotland's future" George Whillans: Langholm "I hope the Iraq war doesn't become a primary issue"

We also want to hear what you think, so send us your comments using the form after each person's views.

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.