JUST three weeks remain until voters head to the polls for what is nationally one of the most unpredictable general elections in recent history.

But locally, it would take a big swing for the Barrow and Furness seat to fall out of Labour hands for the first time since 1992.

Five candidates are fighting for the Furness seat – Labour’s John Woodcock, Conservative Simon Fell, Liberal Democrat Clive Peaple, Ukip’s Nigel Cecil and Green Party candidate Robert O’Hara.

The battle for Barrow and Furness has taken centre stage in the national news as a row broke out last week between Labour and the Conservatives about their policy on nuclear submarines.

Both parties are committed to renewing the Trident system but the Tories claimed Labour would backtrack on the renewal to win the support of the SNP, which would vote to scrap the programme.

Labour has angrily denied the claims, but said they may review the number of subs in the future to see if it could be reduced from four to three.

The future of the submarines has huge implications for jobs in Barrow, with around 6,500 people employed at the shipyard, and has always been perhaps the most crucial issue facing the area in elections.

Since the constituency was created in 1885, it has historically swung between Labour and the Conservatives, but has been considered a ‘safe’ Labour seat since 1945, with the only shake-up to the red stronghold post WWII coming between 1983 and 1992.

During this time the seat was held by Conservative MP and former Manchester lawyer Cecil Franks, who would ask of those determined to elect a Labour candidate for the shipyard town: “What will the lads do on Monday?”

It was directed at the Labour Party, which in the 1980s, had links with the Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament (CND) which wanted nuclear missiles scrapping - despite the implications for Barrow shipyard.

Mr Franks eventually lost the seat to New Labour candidate John Hutton who went on to hold the Furness constituency for 18 years.

In 2010 Mr Hutton was replaced as MP by Labour’s John Woodcock, who won that year’s election with an 11.8 per cent majority.

The last election saw the constituency gain 4,000 extra potential voters due to boundary changes, and also marked the first time the Green Party stood in the area, with their campaign focusing on Ulverston and the villages.

A big swing would be required for the seat to change from red, and the Lib Dems, Greens and Ukip have a lot of catching up to do to touch Labour and the Conservatives, but anything is possible between now and May 7.

The industrial town of Barrow accounts for most of the constituency, but the electorate also includes rural and coastal towns, including Ulverston, Dalton-in-Furness and Broughton.

As one of the most important industrial centres in the country, with further huge investments planned at the shipyard and GSK, issues around business and employment are likely to be high on the agenda for the five candidates.

The future of Furness General Hospital and its services is another key issue, with several of the candidates listing the protection of the hospital as one of their priorities.

Transport and infrastructure improvements between the peninsula and West Cumbria to support investment is also a major factor.

The result will be revealed at around 4am on May 8, after the voting slips have been counted at Barrow Town Hall.