Jeff Phillips, Chair of the Harpenden Society (left) with Chris Marsden who chaired the June 17th hustings event
2024 GENERAL ELECTION HUSTINGS
An Election Hustings that worked, thanks to the Harpenden Society!
An audience of over 200 people …6 political party representatives on stage…questions of importance answered…all in a controlled and friendly atmosphere, at the Katherine Warington School in Harpenden on Monday evening June 17.
The event began with each candidate giving a four minute statement of their intentions.This was followed by an hour long Q&A with audience questions interwoven with questions emailed in advance.
Subjects covered ranged from national issues like Social Care; Defence; Criminal Justice System; Immigration; Economic policy; Education and Brexit to local issues like the Green Belt; Housing; the Local Plan and the High Street.
Candidates were allowed time to give their views without interruption and with limited audience intervention.
The lively event concluded with a two minute statement from each candidate expressing their key reason for residents to vote for them.
All six parties had tables in the reception area where you could talk to them and take away party literature.
The recording of the opening and closing statements of the candidates can be seen by clicking here.
Candidates as seated on stage: from L2R
Symon Vego (representing Zara Layne), Labour Party
Paul de Hoest Green Party
Nigel Gardner, Conservative Party
Mark Patten, SDP
Saba Poursaeedi, Reform UK
Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrats