In the past, Investors Chronicle has not made a habit of telling its readers how to vote, something that I have no plans to change. That’s no bad thing, because the paucity of substance in this election campaign would make it very tough to make any recommendation. There’s no harm, however, in marking the cards of each of the main parties.

Gordon Brown did handle the banking crisis well. While Europe’s leaders sent out contradictory signals and the US Congress was paralysed by infighting, he took bold and decisive steps to stop a systemic banking crisis becoming another depression, winning widespread admiration outside the UK for doing so.

The three main parties have all published their manifestos this week, but what do they really mean and how will the plans affect your finances?

While it’s hard to take the manifestos too seriously as political parties often make vote seeking pledges and then neglect to implement them later if elected, there’s alot of specific detail so it’s worth taking the time to understand the potential implications of your vote.

Consumer website www.candidmoney.com has pulled together a handy guide to the pledges, so here are the highlights:

Income tax: While Labour will not raise tax rates during the next parliament, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to increase personal allowances to £10,000.

National Insurance: Labour plans a 1 per cent increase in April 2010 but Conservatives and Liberal Democrats intend to reverse this 1 per cent rise.

Inheritance tax: Labour will freeze the nil rate band until 2014/15 but the Tories would raise the nil rate band to £1m.

Stamp duty: Both Labour and the Conservatives propose no stamp duty for first time buyers on properties up to £250,000, but while the Tories say this is forever, Labour has set a two year time limit on it.

Property tax: The Liberal Democrats are pushing this one, proposing an annual ‘mansion’ tax of 1 per cent on properties worth £2m plus.

Personal pensions: The Conservatives and the Lib Dems, both propose scrapping effective compulsory annuity purchases at 75.

Child Trust Funds: Labour says it will protect these and fund an extra £100 for disabled children, the Conservatives suggest scrapping government contributions to these for all but the poorest families and the Lib Dems say they would scrap contributions altogether.

Visit our indepth election page to keep up to date with what’s happening.