Hustings26thApril2010

Hustings 26th April 2010

There was a great turn-out at this recent meeting in Brodick Hall, with close to a hundred people turning up to hear just 2 parliamentary candidates answer questions on a wide range of issues in the run-up to the forthcoming Election.

Chair Evelyn Sillars briefly explained the low turn out of candidates. Philip Lardner (Conservative) provided a statement which alluded to his "strong commitment" to Arran, yet he was unable to attend due to other obligations. The Liberal Democrat candidate had offered to send a representative, which was refused on the grounds that the Hustings are specifically about face to face discussions between candidates and the communities they wish to represent. Louise McDade (Socialist Labour) sent leaflets in her stead, detailing her manifesto.

First up of the 2 candidates present was Patricia Gibson (SNP), who gave a quick overview of her party's current proposals to aid economic recovery, which comprised the abolition of Trident, ID card schemes and the House of Lords. Katy Clark (Labour) returned the serve by asserting that those 3 proposed money-saving measures are "but a drop in the ocean", and claimed that reforms in the banking system and redistribution of wealth are more realistic long-term options for financial good practice.

They then ran the gauntlet of often incisive questioning. Many of the enquiries focused on the fairness of fuel, transport and energy costs, on Arran and nationwide. The future of energy provision was queried, with regard to the Parties' stances on nuclear power. Katy Clark promised that nuclear power would not be promoted in Scotland, regardless of policy in England, and that she would lobby for the abolition of Trident missile-based nuclear weaponry. Gibson stated her party's clear opposition to Trident.

The future of funding in the public sector was referred to, specifically the security of local authority jobs and the effect on the quality of services such as education provision. In their concluding speeches, Clark promised to defend public spending, and Gibson acknowledged that "crippling cuts" were inevitable should SNP not be elected.

The evening presented a unique opportunity for candidates to expand on their parties', and their own, visions for the political future and interact with the local community in an informal debate. Unless the voting public are content with a two-horse race, it was an opportunity missed by the absent candidates.