As many of you will have by now heard, Gordon Brown this morning confirmed the date for the UK election - 6 May, exactly one month today. The prime minister made the announcement outside Downing Street after having a 20 minute meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, where he was seeking the dissolution of parliament.

Gordon Brown urged voters to stick with Labour because the nation is on the road to recovery and voting for another party could put the country "at risk".

David Cameron replied by saying that the Conservatives offered a "modern Conservative alternative" and his party offered "hope, optimism and change" and a "fresh start". Cameron went on to criticise Labour's 13 years in power, declaring them to be nothing but a "big government", whilst describing the Tories as a "big society". (Quoted from BBC News website)

The Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg, announced that the election would be anything but a two-horse race between Labour and the Conservatives, stating that the nation have been "crying out for something different. All bets are off. This is a choice now between the old politics of the two old parties and something new, something different, which the Liberal Democrats offer". (Quoted from BBC News website)

We now want to hear from you. Are you surprised by this morning's announcement? After all, Gordon Brown was quoted as saying that it was the "least well-kept secret of recent years". Do you know who you will be voting for yet? What are your thoughts on a hung parliament? Let us know how you feel.