MEMBERS of the public were able to find out the views of some of the Central Devon Parliamentary constituency candidates for the election this Thursday at a hustings held last night (Monday, June 5) in the Drama Hall at Crediton’s Queen Elizabeth’s School Western Road campus.

The “Question-Time”-style event saw candidates John Dean (National Health Action), Lisa Robillard Webb (Labour), Mel Stride (Conservative), Alex White (Liberal Democrats), Andy Williamson (Green), and UKIP representative Richard Wright face a 130-strong audience.

Liberal candidate Lloyd Knight was unable to attend.

The event was organised by Sustainable Crediton and Christians Together in Crediton, supported by Queen Elizabeth’s School.

Before the questions were posed, each of the candidates was given a few minutes to introduce themselves to the audience.

Chairing the hustings was Rupert Poole, principal at Queen Elizabeth’s School.

All the candidates in their introductions made reference to the recent terrorist attacks, UKIP representative Mr Wright stating that “immigration was the ‘elephant in the room’”, with regard to the attacks.

Mr Dean contradicted and said that the NHS was reliant on workers from overseas.

Mrs Webb said that the NHS was “in peril” and Mr Dean said that saving the NHS from cuts was the main reason he was standing.

Mr Stride said that the country should be proud of the NHS and said that the Conservative Government in the recent administration had employed 10,000 more doctors and nurses.

The first question revolved around Brexit and Mr Stride said farmers could be badly hit if tariff barriers were increased. He said he had been a remainer but accepted democracy and also that in the future the country would have to take control of its borders and negotiate trade deals, particularly affecting, for example, the car industry, pharmaceuticals, financial services and agriculture.

He said the country needed a “strong, stable government”, which caused some jeers.

Mr White said that WTO rules would be “disastrous” and Richard Wright said leaving Europe behind would mean more trade for the UK in the future, which resulted in some jeers and shouts of “rubbish” from the audience.

Mrs Webb called for a Mexican wave every time that Mr Stride mentioned Jeremy Corbyn and Mr Stride welcomed this and a Mexican wave started twice when he mentioned his name.

Mrs Webb said that there were no pharmaceutical or car industries in Central Devon.

Mr Dean reminded people that the NHS was at the centre of the Brexit campaign.

Mr Wright disagreed leading to another spat between those on the panel.

The next question revolved around pensions and Women Against State Pension Inequality.

Many WASPI members were present and it was said that there were 4,660 were affected in Central Devon.

The NHS and social care was discussed and then education was also on the agenda.

Poverty, hospital beds, inheritance tax and climate change were mentioned.

Mr Wright said climate change was “a myth” leading to strong opposition from some members of the audience.

Mr White received a cheer when he said the Liberal Democrats would ban fracking.

On education funding, Mr White said that it was “courageous” of 3,000 head teachers to put their heads above the parapet concerning school funding.

Mr Stride said the subject of education was one of the main reasons he had entered politics and said he wanted every child to get the best education because “it is the best route for social mobility”.

He spoke of his efforts and some success with regard to the Fairer Funding for Schools campaign.

He said the Conservative manifesto pledged an extra £4 billion to ensure schools don’t get less funding under the formula, adding that he would continue to fight “tooth and nail” for children’s education.

Mr Dean went back to a previous question about Brexit saying that the one good thing after Brexit was that he hoped “it will extinguish UKIP for good”, which resulted in much applause.

Mrs Webb said Labour would provide education “free for all, right through life” adding that “education is vital to all”.

Time prevented a final question and candidates and representatives from giving a closing statement but they were all thanked for their attendance and all the audience members went home knowing a lot more about the candidates and about their thoughts and party policies.

Alan Quick