The mood on the doorsteps of Downing... Close

The residents of Downing Close will be casting their votes for the brand new seat of Buckingham and Bletchley

OK, so it's not quite Downing Street, but it's close. Downing Close to be exact.

Built in the 2000s on what was once the cricket pitch of Bletchley Park, the homes here in this quiet corner of Milton Keynes range from large detached properties, to tall three-storey town houses to small blocks of flats.

Those living here will be casting their votes for the brand new seat of Buckingham and Bletchley.

Shankar Parameswaran says he is concerned about social rifts and urged politicians to show greater "common sense"

"We've not had anybody here campaigning," says Shankar Parameswaran. "I think both [of the main] parties are scared that we will tell them off.

"They both can do better in my opinion," he says. "I haven't decided who I am going to vote for."

Mr Parameswaran says he has spotted "loopholes" in the party manifestos and is concerned that whoever wins might try and "slip" other policies in that the public is currently unaware of.

Priorities for Mr Parameswaran include "being safe where you live".

He says although Downing Close is a lovely place to live, other areas are less fortunate.

"Safety is a problem," he says, "and we are closing police stations - one down the road has been closed."

He is also concerned about the prevalence of "extraordinary political correctness" at the expense of people "actually doing what they are supposed to do" and showing "common sense".

This is "causing a divide in society itself" which, he says, is deeply unhealthy for a country and one of the toughest issues to fix.

"It is the basic problem of not being able to have a chat with anyone who has an opposing thought."

Leevan Hasdell is currently off work because of a back injury, meaning the BBC spoke to him through the intercom rather than in person

Leevan Hasdell lives in one of the blocks of flats just down the road from Mr Parameswaran.

He is currently off work because of a back injury, meaning the BBC spoke to him through the intercom rather than in person.

"I've always voted in the election," the 34-year-old, who works in healthcare, says. "But I am in two minds whether to vote this year.

"I think I'll decide on the day."

He is also unsure about who will get his vote.

A previous fan of the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (who is standing as an independent in Islington North), Mr Hasdell says he has now "swung the other way" towards the Conservatives and Reform UK.

His key concerns include support for key workers and accessing healthcare.

He says there should tax relief for such workers who, he says, "don't do it for the money" but for the greater good.

"I tried to get a dental appointment recently," he says. "I thought I was registered but now I have been told I have to go private.

"I'm paying taxes and national insurance but I can't get NHS dental care. Is this where we are going now?

"You can't charge us more tax and take away our services."

Mother-of-one Zeyana Mohamed says she is voting for Labour

Mother-of-one Zeyana Mohamed will be voting next week.

"Growing up my mum always told me you needed to vote," she says.

"I always vote for Labour."

However, she says her Labour vote this time around would be less enthusiastic than it was last time under Mr Corbyn, who she said was a "man of the people".

As for her main priority, the 28-year-old says: "It would be really nice if they could actually do something about the NHS."

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Retired accountant Garry Barnes says he would like the Conservatives to show a "bit more old-fashioned style conservatism"

Retired accountant Garry Barnes, 67, says he is not "really expecting either side to fulfil what I would like to happen".

He has already cast his vote but says it was not sent in with much enthusiasm.

He says he would like the Conservatives to show a "bit more old-fashioned style conservatism".

He says the party has shown "too much wokeness" and, although "understandable" given the impact of Covid on the economy, there had been a period of "high taxes" that needed to end.

"I think things are going to get worse in the short term," he says.

He thinks Labour's plans are "going to be expensive".

Decorator Mark Lee says he has made up his mind as to who he is voting for

In another block of flats, we meet Mark Lee, a decorator with 46 years' experience under his belt.

Asked what the most important issue is to him, he answers immediately: "The National Health Service, without any shadow of a doubt.

"They've been good to me over the years. I had Covid really bad and spent four and a half weeks in intensive care,

"When they are needed they always come up trumps."

He compares scenes from debates in Parliament, which see insults and "booing", with a "bunch of children".

Despite this, he has done his research and decided who he is going to vote for.

"It is set in stone now, right or wrong," he says.

"I've seen a lot of these elections now and it always does go on a bit, doesn't it?

"I'll be pleased when the country makes up its mind as to who it wants, to be honest."