London, England - For weeks its been said the economy was the key to this election. Yet, its has taken a back seat to many other topics, such as health care, immigration, personalities.

Now, tonight, the third and last debate between the leaders of the three main parties is supposed to be about the economy (though the last bit can be on any topic, so lets see if this debate strays.)

Up to now, the markets have had their eyes elsewhere - booming stock markets, worries about Greek debt, very good Q1 results out of the USA.

But on Thursday night the leaders should and will be asked about Britain's budget deficit, the biggest one within the G-7.

The three parties have been accused of leaving any bad news about severe budget cuts, public sector job cuts, tax rises etc. etc. until after May 6.

Tonight they may be forced to go along the lines of Ireland and Greece which have been forced to not only outline severe austerity measures but also implement them.

No doubt Greece will come up tonight, if for no other reason than the British pound has been losing ground of late to the safe-haven dollar and because there is talk, just talk mind you, that British bonds could face a downgrade if there is no clear winner in this election, leading to no decisions on the budget deficit.

The previous two debates have focused on the style of each candidate as they repeated well-used policies and promises. This time around, will the Friday papers be full of analysis on a serious debate about the future of Britain's economy?

Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: The Economy

It may a week before polling day, but people are starting to vote through the mail. I got my postal vote on Tuesday.

Britain has one of the more advanced postal voting systems so punters like me can just tick the box and mail it back, even though the church where I would vote in person is just steps from my house. More people have registered to vote by post this year than in any other UK election, thanks in large part because voters can apply online to do it.

Some 20 percent of eligible voters will "mail it in" according to the Daily Telegraph. That is, along as the voter puts their correct birthday on the form, which apparently many did not do last time. The hope is that overall voting numbers will increase if people can vote beforehand.

I also vote by post (absentee ballot) in the United States, but that's because I am a long way from California. The rules vary state by state and in some places you must provide a valid reason to vote by mail (distance, disability).

Given the fact that the current Liberal Democrat MP won in 2005 by less that four thousand votes, the seat is one that Conservatives must win to get its hoped for clear majority.

In this case, every (postal) vote counts but how soon until UK joins the very few countries that allow vote by e-mail?

Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: Uncategorized

Market watchers are keen to see how the UK currency performs both before and after the election (Getty).

London, England – Long before Britain's third party, the Liberal Democrats, made a splash and become a serious contender for the top spot in the May 6 national election, the financial markets were talking about hung parliaments.

All the talk was about the ruling Labour Party of Gordon Brown not being able to form a new government if the Conservatives win the election. Now the talk is about a three-way race and who would get into bed with who to form a coalition

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: Election •The Economy

Protesters attend a demonstration against public service cuts – an issue in the UK vote – on April 10 in London (AFP/Getty).

London, England - Until I moved to London 20 years ago, a manifesto to me was something issued behind the Iron Curtain by an authoritarian government which laid out a five-year plan to show free marketeers how wrong they were.

But in Britain, all the political parties used the term "manifesto" to lay out their "stalls" (another British term lost on me at first) in order for the electorate to decide where to put an X.

Some of the manifestos have nothing to do with the economy, so I will bypass those sections. But much of it is economic and business-focused this time around, given this is being touted as the "Economic Election."

Do the three main parties differ? Skeptics would say that mainstream parties these days only tinker around the edges. So, here's a quick look at the differences in what Labour, The Conservative and the Liberal Democrats have published as their official promises.

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Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: The Economy

London, England - The word apathy is being used already when it comes to next month's UK general election. Even though polls indicate this first election in five years will be close, we could see fewer 18 to 24 year olds voting than did in 1997 when Labour booted out the Conservatives. Only 37 percent voted in 2005.

Of course, in 1997, there was no such thing as social media.

Facebook hopes to do something about getting under 25s to register.  Starting on Saturday, every single one of the 23 million UK Facebook users will be asked if they want to sign up to vote.

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Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: Election •Social Media •The Economy

I will be watching what impact the election will have on the British pound and maybe more importantly on its bonds.

London, England - I will be watching what impact the election will have on the British pound and maybe more importantly on its bonds.

If gilts lose their luster over fears that the incoming government, no matter what the colour, won't be able to cut the budget deficit enough to satisfy investors, then the country will have to pay even more to sell debt, raising the debt pile ever higher.

The pound has lost ground to the dollar in recent months and while that may be helping exporters, speculators could spend the next month making big bets on which way sterling will go after the election.

While many people will watch the next four weeks carefully, the real reaction may come after the poll, especially if there is a so-called hung parliament. Markets hate uncertainty.

Posted by: CNN Correspondent Jim Boulden
Filed under: The Economy