The ‘change’ word has a tendency to dominate election discourse and 2010 is no different. David Cameron launched his campaign on Monday under the banner “Vote for Change”, the Liberal Democrats have a slogan “Change that works for you” and while Brown may be less keen on using this particular c-word (for obvious reasons), he has just published a collection of speeches under the title “The Change We Choose.”

Yet according to Martin Bell OBE, the former independent MP for Tatton, real change will only come with the election of new independent candidates. In an open letter to voters and independent candidates written and published on behalf of the Independent Network, Bell argues that independents have an “unprecedented opportunity on 6 May to change the face of politics”.

He writes: “It is a time for the election of a group of MPs, without party baggage but with real world experience, to be a force for honest politics in the New House of Commons.”

Speaking exclusively to Total Politics, Bell is optimistic. He says he “doesn’t expect a revolution”. “But even a handful of independents would be a real force for good in the new House of Commons,” he adds.

The Independent Network, a non-profit organisation that promotes and supports independent candidates and non-party politicians, currently lists 26 independent candidates and there are 74 (and counting) running across the country. Among these are broadcasting personality Esther Rantzen and McDonald’s worker Luke Wilkins who saved up his £4.65-an-hour pay from the fast-food store to stand.

Aged just 18, Wilkins will have clocked up over 120-hours to enter the race but, like many other independent candidates, he faces considerable obstacles on his journey to Westminster.

The difficulties for independents to become elected remain considerable, not least because they have lower resources.