THE televised party leader debate was interesting as an event, but didn’t clarify the position of each party on the major issues of health, education and the economy.

Personalities were the main issue of the day.

If you look at main policies of each of the parties then it is quite difficult to see too much difference between them in some areas.

They represent subtle differences and viewpoints on current issues.

Combine this with a lack of clarity from the polls on which party might win any general election and where any alliances might form then there is a great deal of uncertainty arising.

This can be a major problem for any business who is considering a major investment at the moment.

How will the minimum wage change? What about ‘zero hours’ contracts? Where will cuts and expenditure occur? What will happen to inflation and interest rates? Which major projects will be funded?

While Warrington’s high level of private sector activity does help to protect it a little from some of the major expenditure impacts, projects such as HS2 and HS3 remain more speculative.

It will be good to get the election over so business knows where it is.

  •  PROF Lawrence Bellamy is associate dean at the University of Chester's Padgate campus and writes a regular column for the business pages.