A lively evening with wide ranging questions

The church was packed for the event, organised by The Putney Society, with the audience filling downstairs and spilling into the upstairs balcony area. Six candidates (Conservative Justine Greening, Green - Ben Fletcher, Independent - Lotta Quizeen, Lib Dem - Ryan Mercer, Labour - Dr Neeraj Patil, and UKIP - Patricia Ward) spoke for five minutes each and then answered questions from the floor.

Questions primarily focused on national rather than local issues with the exception of the impact of changes in education funding. Topics covered a wide range of issues although Brexit dominated with audience members concerned about what type of deal might be negotiated and even if a deal will be reached and the need to resolve the uncertainty over long term EU residents in the UK and UK citizens living in Europe.

Other questions raised included immigration and the potential impact of limits on sectors such as the health service; Social care funding – a particularly topical matter as hours earlier the PM had announced a change to her party’s manifesto plans in this area; proposals to expand grammar schools (Conservative and UKIP in favour, others against) and levels of education funding including government plans to replace free school meals for the first three years of primary school with free breakfast. Candidates were also asked to demonstrate what skills and experience they had for the job.

Overall it was a good natured meeting peppered with the occasional heckle. One of the biggest laughs came from one candidate opposed to Heathrow who said they should bring back the idea of Boris Island and mused which island he should be left on.

May 23, 2017