CHURCHES in Tenbury Wells have invited all the West Worcestershire parliamentary candidates to come to an old fashioned hustings as the general election looms.
No soap boxes on street corners here, though, as it will be hosted at St Mary’s Church, Sunday 25 April at 3pm complete with refreshments.
The churches are seeking to encourage people to get involved in the election by offering them this opportunity to meet the candidates face to face and raise their concerns about local and national issues.
Tenbury Wells residents will be voting for the first time as part of the West Worcestershire constituency and there will be no sitting MP defending the seat. In this time of change all of the candidates have been very keen to take the churches up on the chance to meet local voters.
“I believe that we all have a responsibility to take voting seriously and I am excited about setting up these hustings so that people can come and raise the issues that are important to them, and meet the candidates as people not just names on the ballot paper’ said Helen Roberts, Methodist minister and one of the organisers.
People are encouraged to come with their questions written out, and like the BBC’s ‘Question Time’ organisers will pick those used in the main part of the meeting, reflecting a cross-section of the concerns raised.
There will be a limited time for open questions from the floor as well as a chance to chat with candidates over coffee.
“On behalf of St Mary’s Church I am looking forward to welcoming our parliamentary candidates to our hustings. I hope as many people as possible from our community will fill able to join us in what should be an interesting afternoon,” said the rector, the Rev Claire Lording.
So if you want to meet your future MP – come along and hear what the candidates have to say!
Confirmed attendance by all currently declared candidates are Harriett Baldwin – Conservative,Caroline Bovey – UKIP, Richard Burt – Liberal Democrat and Malcolm Victory – Green.
The event will be hosted by Rev Claire Lording, St Mary’s Church (Anglican) and Rev Helen Roberts, Tenbury Methodist Church. The event is also supported by Father Douglas Lamb, of the Church of the Sacred Heart, (Catholic).