A GENERAL Election hustings at Richmond School last night attracted a large audience as the seven hopefuls attempted to win over new voters – prompting some lively debate and even a few heckles.

A comment from UKIP's Matthew Cooke thanking women for attending to listen to "seven men in suits" prompted heckles from women in the audience, one complaining of too few female questioners, with another responding by asking why she had not submitted her own. 

The meeting involved opening statements from each of the candidates followed by questions submitted in advance from the floor, which ranged from opportunities for school leavers, foodbanks, the link between politics and religion, and climate change.

Candidates from the main political parties – Rishi Sunak, Conservative; Mike Hill, Labour; Matthew Cooke, UKIP; John Harris, Liberal Democrat; and Leslie Rowe, Green - stuck mainly to the official line, while independents John Blackie and Robin Scott gave their views on a range of issues.

More grumbles from the audience responded to Mr Cooke’s views on climate change that it was not entirely caused by humans; and the audience gave resounding applause to all candidates who condemned the local need for foodbanks.