South West Norfolk residents will have the chance to question their election candidates thanks to an event held by an environment group.
Fenland and West Norfolk Friends of the Earth has organised a hustings event at Downham Market Methodist Church on Thursday, June 20.
Anyone is welcome to attend and ask questions on any topic they wish to those running.
Lorraine Douglas, from the Communist Party of Britain, Pallavi Devulapalli, Green Party, James Bagge, Independent, Terry Jermy, Labour Party, Josie Ratcliffe, Liberal Democrats, and Toby McKenzie, Reform UK have all confirmed that they will be attending.
Invitations have also been sent to Liz Truss, Conservative, Gary Conway, Heritage Party, and Earl Elvis of East Anglia from The Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
The group says it hopes that the next MP for South West Norfolk is committed to taking the “bold and decisive action needed to meet the UK’s climate and nature targets”.
Questions are not restricted to being environment-based, however, Fenland and West Norfolk Friends of the Earth do expect there to be some questions on the topic as they say recent polling shows voters across the political spectrum care about the environment and want their political leaders to act with ambition.
Brenda Kent, the group’s coordinator, said: “From sewage polluting our precious rivers and seas, to our reliance on expensive fossil fuels, the failure to protect and restore our environment is having a real impact on people’s daily lives through higher bills, worsening health outcomes and mounting threats to our homes and the safety of our future.
“We know the health of our planet remains a top priority for voters of all stripes, and other key issues that matter most at this election – the economy, health and housing – will also benefit from robust and decisive action on climate and nature.
An analysis from the environmental group Friends of the Earth last year found the UK could be on its way to breaking its 2030 climate promise.
“The UK has been veering dangerously off track for some time on meeting key green targets, despite near-constant reports of the escalating climate and nature emergency,” Brenda added.
“There has never been a more important time to be a friend of the earth – we hope that our community will turn out and use this opportunity to have their say and scrutinise candidates’ green commitments.
“However, I must stress that we are not limiting the scope of residents’ questions. We want the audience to feel free to raise whatever matters they think are most important.”
Doors to the event will open at 7pm when attendees can fill in question slips so that the organisers and chairperson can identify representative questions.