KU students could end up casting the deciding vote in some of the area's most closely fought seats, a Conservative candidate has claimed. 

Ms Whately is hoping to do considerably better in this year's election than in 2005, when the party lost to Lib Dem candidate Ed Davey by around 10,000 votes.

 “For Cameron to form a government with a majority of one,  117 constituencies are required; a feat the Conservatives have not achieved since the 1930s,” explained Ms Whately.

“I think one of the most important things in these elections is the choice of who you want as your next Prime Minister, do you want another five years of Gordon Brown or a change of government by voting for David Cameron?”

The Kingston-Surbiton seat is traditionally important to the Conservative party, as whenever they have achieved electoral success, they have held this constituency.

“If you vote for Ed Davey there is a chance you could wake up with Gordon Brown still in power,” Ms Whately said, highlighting growing fears of a hung parliament.

Ms Whately also backs Conservative party plans to create another 10,000 extra student places, a figure which would include apprenticeships and training placements.

“We have a plan to make students pay back their student loans earlier and we can use this funding to pay for these extra places.  At the moment we can’t make any extra spending commitments, we have to find another way to fund it.” She explained.

Ms Whately also endorses a party scheme to benefit part-time and mature students, who at present have un-capped tuition fees and are illegible for student loans.

 “I want better job prospects for university students those who can’t afford go and for those finishing looking forward jobs after leaving. Graduates should not have to continue studying, because they can’t find work,” said Ms Whately.