We are writing to let everyone know that with some regret and frustration we have decided to cancel the proposed hustings evening on 22nd April.
Having contacted the candidates for five major parties the current position is:
- Conservative (Richard Holden,) -- willing and able to take part
- Green Party (Gemma Christie )-- wishing to take part but unable to do so personally ("out of
- Labour (Mark Hendrick) --- despite several emails and phone calls does not reply to our requests and his staff refuse to commit as to whether or not he will attend.
- Liberal Democrat (Jo Barton) -- wishing to take part but unable to do so personally ("something else has come up") so suggesting they will send a representative rather than the candidate.
- UKIP (James Barker) -- willing and able to take part
While we would have gone ahead if three out of five candidates had personally committed to attend and two had sent deputies, our judgement is that the hustings are not viable with only two candidates committed, with our need to finalise publicity this week.
If you have any comments about this inability to engage with the electorate, or have questions you would have liked to ask the candidates at the hustings we suggest you make contact with any or all of them using the contact information you can find on their various web sites.
On May 7th please use your vote prayerfully and carefully in the hope that whoever gains power will use it to serve the common good.
Some of the churches in
