MONDAY saw the town’s first hustings, with all five general election candidates answering questions from the crowd at Droitwich Methodist Centre, and debating the issues.

Questions ranged from concerns over the use of foodbanks, affordable housing, and the standards of local hospitals, to the future of university tuition fees, the UK’s membership of the EU and Trident, with the mood remaining polite.

Concerns were raised over the dependence of local residents on the newly established foodbank in Droitwich, which all candidates agreed was unfortunate. A UKIP policy voiced by Richard Keel proved popular.

He said: “We give people who need more money in their pockets, more money to spend. We would put in independent advisors in each of those banks, so hopefully those people can get out of those situations.”

A question over affordable housing gave Liberal Democrat candidate Margaret Rowley a chance to stress the need for a long term perspective over planning, as well as giving her opinion on the Conservative manifesto promise to let people cheaply buy housing association properties. She was applauded for saying: “They should remain as housing association properties. I do not agree with the proposal that they should become right to buy.”

Neil Franks for the Green Party won favour for his concerns over private funding for the NHS. He said: “We do not accept corporate donations, we have no puppet strings attached to us. We’re willing to integrate health and social care, and we will keep it free at point of use.”

Conservative candidate Nigel Huddleston was laughed at for his comment that he was ‘tired with people using the NHS as a political football’, but when he added: “With all this scaremongering going on about privatisation, I stand for a party that has a long term commitment to the NHS,” he was applauded by members of the audience.

Labour candidate Robin Lunn won support for his suggestion that the current Worcestershire NHS Acute Trust should be disbanded. He said “This is an issue of competence,” adding that perhaps Worcestershire should be split and managed through Birmingham and Gloucestershire trusts.

Margaret Rowley disagreed, saying “we do need a Worcestershire solution, ” adding “we need to have integrated planning and funding between health and social care”.

The Green Party was the only one to suggest scrapping university tuition fees, with Neil Franks receiving a round of applause for saying: “We believe in not putting students in debt and having to pay interest which just goes to the banks. If we put up front as a country they’re not lumbered with a huge debt."

Richard Keel responded to calls for the candidates to do more to encourage first-time voters from students at Droitwich Spa High School, saying: “I think it’s true to believe that politics in this country has got very narrow-minded and a lot of people have been switching off.”

The subject of the EU led to heated disagreement between UKIP and the Lib Dems with Richard Keel stressing the need to leave the EU, and Margaret Rowley disagreeing, while Neil Franks added that the Greens would offer a referendum on Europe despite supporting the country’s membership.

There will be another hustings event on Tuesday, April 28 at Wychbold First School on School Road in Wychbold.

All five candidates will be answering questions from the audience from 7.30pm, and members of the public are welcome to attend.