HUSTINGS

Post date: May 27, 2015 12:14:17 PM

posted Apr 17, 2015, 6:40 AM by Charles Rothery [ updated Apr 17, 2015, 6:48 AM ]

2015 GENERAL ELECTION

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN THE LEWES AREA

HAVE ARRANGED A

HUSTINGS MEETING

ON

THURSDAY 23 APRIL AT 7.30 P.M.

AT

KING'S CHURCH

(OFF BROOKS ROAD LEWES - NEAR HOMEBASE)

Questions should be sent to Caroline Pybus either:

by email to carpyb@gmail.com

or to her at Flat 4, Cliffe Leas, Farncombe Road, Lewes, BN7 2UH,

to be received by Saturday 18 April. Please include your name, name of

your Church or Organisation (if any) and your question.

Questions should be clear and concise, and the person sending them

must attend the Hustings meeting in order to put the question.

Report on Hustings

From Sussex Express 1 May 2015

NOTABLY COURTEOUS HUSTINGS in Lewes last week. The five Lewes Parliamentary Candidates came together in Kings Church, to answer questions from a full house (standing room only) in Hustings arranged by Churches Together in the Lewes Area (CTLA). The panel was ably chaired with firmness and humour by His Honour Judge Michael Kennedy. The five candidates had about 5 minutes each to answer questions which they had seen in advance: there were 12 questions covering the Living wage, Assisted Suicide, NHS funding and competition, tuition fees, the carbon footprint, Israel, the Independent Living Allowance, detention of asylum seekers, electoral reform, educational priorities and even whether candidates were christians or not. Questions were often asked by local organisations with a specific issue as well as by individuals.They were answered briefly, intelligently and courteously and often candidates referred favourably to what other members of the panel had said at previous hustings. It was a very informative evening, finishing almost dead on the advertised end time and the organising committee has received may favourable comments. One compliment said, “Hustings are usually heated arguments…It was a change to attend one where candidates had thought through what they wanted to express. - a useful way of giving voters a chance to see how candidates think and respond.” Another said, “the questions were fair but probing; I certainly learned a lot.” The large open space and excellent technology at Kings Church also helped. CTLA, the Chair, questioners and all the candidates are to be thanked for a very civilised and useful evening.