Less than 2 months to go. We can expect 3 televised debates with top 3 parties, party election broadcasts, endless sound-bite news clips and a leaflet through the door but don't expect any candidate to call.
I would like to revive the hustings, local public meetings with all candidates invited for a moderated question & answer session with the electorate. Say 4 per constituency within 2 weeks of the election being called. Invites could be sent to candidates, listing dates & venues (pre-arranged schools, parish hall etc). Any nominal cost would be equally spread between constituency candidates.
Who would invite and moderate? Back in 1988 there was a national grassroots democracy campaign by the name of Charter 88. I was a member of a local group who helped organise hustings - a very successful and motivating event.
If momentum can be maintained to create a template so that hustings could be replicated across the country and at all future election events this could well generate voter involvement as well as get issues aired. I am sick and tired of candidate claiming they work hard all the year round and not have to prove it.
Such democracy groups could properly constitute themselves and get funded through the usual local channels.
Question is: who will create, publicise, organise and fund the template?
I have a school venue interested in staging an all PPC meeting When candidates are invited to participate they want to know whom I represent. - a local voter interested in assessing the local candidates' response to voter questions Another defined group has organised a similar event earlier in the campaign and secured most PPC attendances. I regard this meeting as complementary, not competition. Whilst we cannot reverse national TV impact,I believe there is a place for questioning of local candidates at the hustings Perhaps the Democracy Club could act as an umbrella promoter for local all PPC meetings?
Last night (Fri 31 Apr) Tatton held its 4th and final all prospective parliamentary candidates meeting in Knutsford. Mtg 1 10 Apr Wilmslow org Wilmslow Churches Together all known candidates inc G.O. Well attended, well organised afternoon, discussed national & local concerns Question Time format with good audience participation 2hr Mtg 2 21 Apr PM Wilmslow org Wilmslow High School 6th form all avail candidates Good student participation, poor public attendance QT format various Qs 2hr Mtg 3 21 Apr Wilmslow evg org self all declared candidates except GO QT format, poor public attendance, mainly local topics discussed 2hr Mtg 4 31 Apr Knutsford org Knutsford Guardian all declared candidates inc GO Good public attendance Questions (mainly local issues) submitted, selected and revealed to candidates in advance. No audience participation.
Each meeting was arranged independently, at short notice. These meetings provided an interesting snapshot of voter concerns, MP expenses transgressions, parliamentary voting & House of Lords reforms, primary residence, local concerns vs national policy, constituency vs party loyalty.
I would hope for future Gen Elections there is cooperation between those organising all candidate meetings, so there is one well-advertised public meeting per main constituency town with all candidates engaged plus a schools/new voter meeting after closure for candidates. Present incumbents please note.
