Ever since Barack Obama's meteoric rise to popularity, every western political party leader has desperately tried to emulate his success, often through attempts to jump on the bandwagon of change.

Real change is needed in Britain: change from the politics of old, from the scandals of Westminster, from the influences of large corporations. I'd like the change that takes place to be one that lasts, one that benefits the entire country, not just the elite class, and certainly not vapid change with no substance or policies to back it up with.

For the first time that I can remember, the race to be the next governing party is one that really will be contested by three parties. Whatever your opinion of the US-style Leaders' Debates, they certainly catapulted Nick Clegg, and the Liberal Democrats with him, into the public spotlight, and made his party a credible choice in the election. For the first time, in many constituencies, a vote for the Lib Dems won't be a wasted one.

With that in mind, and the fact that we may not have an outright, first-past-the-post winner, I started thinking about what I'd like from our next parliament.

From the Parties

I'd like less scaremongering where parties try to fool us into believing that changes to the way we elect our government would be a bad thing. How would it be fair if a political party came third, in terms of the number of seats it held in Westminster, when it held the largest share of the popular vote? This is one area where our country needs real change - those that would block it are surely those who currently benefit from it.

I'd like the lies on hung parliaments to stop, and for parties to realise that the majority of us aren't scared by the prospect of a hung parliament, or a coalition government. The premise that things won't get done in this outcome is ludicrous - what actually happens is that laws, bills and policies founded on party principles, which may only benefit a disproportionate amount of the electorate, won't be passed as easily as they would have been by a single, majority-holding party. Imagine, if you will, a future where policies and laws are passed which actually reflect the popular opinion of the people who put their government in power!

I'd like more consultancy on big decisions that affect me and the country I live in, so I'd like our government to hold a referendum on anything, such as entry into the Euro, that would have a massive impact on our society.

I'd like a fully-elected House of Lords, purely on the basis that unelected peers are out of touch with, and have no real accountability to the population they are supposed to be serving.

On social and education matters

I'd like our society to have a benefits system that actually benefits our society. I believe that if you can work, and you are offered work, you should work. I think that too many people take a dishonest advantage of the myriad of benefit schemes in place. But I also believe that it's wrong that people actually receive more money in benefits because the tax system penalises low earners.

I'd like a fairer tax system, one which recognises that those who earn more can afford to contribute more to the country by way of tax. Some of the examples used by the party leaders could be slightly exaggerated, but I'm sure there are individuals in the upper echelons of our society who legally avoid paying tax by taking advantage of loopholes in tax law. If I was earning large amounts of money, I would expect to pay large amounts of tax. I don't think it's fair that I should pay less tax just because I'm married.

I'd like an education system that isn't tiered and which benefits everyone. As a parent-to-be, I'd like a system in which my children will have as much of a chance as anyone else's, with prospects of a good education unhampered by where I live or the amount our family earns.

On National Security

I'd like identity cards and the national identity database to be scrapped because I don't believe, for a minute, that a piece of plastic with a photo and a data chip will solve any real problem, especially any which involves national security or immigration.

I'd like our nuclear stockpile to be reduced because I think we should be joining the US and Russia in leading by example, with the noble goal of global nuclear disarmament. I don't necessarily think it should be completely eliminated immediately, but I also don't think that replacing Trident, like-for-like, is the best use of £80-100 billion.

I'd like our armed forces to be better funded because they do a fantastic job. I'm proud of my friends who serve and have served in many of our country's fine military institutions, but I've been genuinely scared for them when they've left for tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. I'd like them to be trained at a sufficiently high level, given the right equipment for the job, and rewarded properly for the work they do.

On a more personal note

I'd like a more technologically-focused and capable government, one which realises that you don't need to spend billions upon billions of pounds to provide good, usable, accessible public services via the internet.

I'd like an MP that actually does something with his vote, because I believe it's hypocritical of MPs to tell us all that we should be out there using our vote - something I believe very strongly in - when they won't use theirs, especially when their constituents have voiced concerns or support for a particular bill or policy.

I'd like to hold my MP accountable for the things they do. If, as so many have in the past, my MP decides to try and scam the expenses system, or commit any other misconduct, then their constituents should have the power to recall them to a by-election.

Decision Time

No single party offers everything that I'd like, and I'm sure my priorities and desires won't align with everyone else in the country. More than anything, however, what I'd like is fairness. I'm not sure that the Conservative party understands what fair actually is. They have some grand ideas for 'Big Society', but when you look at it - along with their contract for change, which fell through our letterbox last night - it all just looks a bit forced.

I won't vote for Labour in Warwick, because I feel desperately let down by an MP who has told me that he didn't support a bill (or a war) but then didn't vote against it - that's not my idea of 'not supporting' something.

In a last ditch effort to try and influence the outcome, the non-Conservative-aligned press now wants you to employ tactical voting, or "intelligent voting" as it's called. Personally, I don't think there's anything intelligent about voting for someone you don't believe in - especially if the press are suggesting you do so - as this favours a two-horse race, something that, despite the press' constant, desperate claims to the contrary, this election is not.

This time, more so than ever, this election is about voting for who you feel you should, voting for the policies that matter to you. Which is why, tomorrow morning, I'll be voting for Alan Beddow (@AlanBeddow) and the Liberal Democrats (@LibDems).