IF a quite stunning poll out this week is to be believed, the Scottish National Party (SNP) will win all 59 parliamentary seats north of the border at next week’s General Election.

Ed Miliband has ruled out coalition with the nationalists, although SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says the Labour chief will have to “change his tune”.

The SNP’s rise and rise has led some London newspapers to call the pint-sized First Minister the “most dangerous wee woman in Britain”.

But in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, voters weren't overly worried about the impact of any SNP breakthrough - feeling all politicians are much the same.

“I agree they should have their independence,” says Suzanne Brown, during a hearty lunch in Mr Pickwick’s cafe.

But beyond that, the question produces glazed looks all round.

“They all say they’re going to do one thing and then do something else,” says Frances Currington, sharing a lunch with Suzanne.

She has a disabled son and has “suffered” under Coalition welfare cuts.

“It’d be worse if there was another Conservative government. But even Labour would cut as well.

“The country’s in a mess anyway. I have to fight for everything.”

Suzanne shares her friend’s distaste for the political class.

“I don’t believe anything they say,” the ex-Labour voter says. "It would be all well and good if they did what they said they were going to do.”

She isn’t sure whether she’ll vote next week. “I can’t really be bothered.”

Across the dining area, retired couple Eric and Flora Dair are just rounding off their lunch with a coffee.

“Definitely not Labour,” Flora says, firmly. “We’re better off with Cameron than Labour.

“I liked Mrs Thatcher. She introduced the SERPS (State Earnings Related Pension Scheme). Without that, we’d be struggling with just the old age pension.”

Eric, a retired dental technician, used to vote Labour. His dad served 42 years as a miner.

He’s undecided who to support next week, though says he probably will vote.

Further up Front Street, Isobel Cowan and Lynn Taggart, owner and manager of the 5 A Day greengrocers, want someone who’ll speak up for small business.

“We need business rates kept down,” says Lynn, of Burnopfield.

But she is unsure whether she’ll vote, or who for.

“They all say they’re going to do something and then they go back on it. They come up with a load of false policies.”

Isobel says she probably will vote, but hasn’t decided who for yet.

“I keep thinking Ukip,” she says, almost guiltily.

Chester-le-Street is in the North Durham constituency which has been Labour since its creation in 1983. Kevan Jones has seen his majority cut from 18,683 in 2001 to 16,781 in 2005 and 12,076 in 2010, but it is still viewed as a safe seat.

The North Durham candidates are: Malcolm Bint (Ukip), Laetitia Glossop (Conservative), Kevan Jones (Labour), Peter Maughan (Liberal Democrats) and Vicki Nolan (Greens).