With a general election looming large on the political horizon, a number of parliamentary hopefuls were put through their paces in Diss and Harleston.
Voters across the country will go to the polls tomorrow to decide the political make up of the House of Commons – and who should govern from 10 Downing Street.
The newly created Waveney Valley seat will return its first MP, with analysts and polls predicting a close fight between the parties.
On June 24, Diss High School and Harleston and District Business Forum held separate hustings events as the candidates went head to head.
Sixth form students welcomed Labour’s Gurpreet Padda, Scott Huggins (Reform UK), Richard Rout (Conservatives) and Maya Severyn (Social Democratic Party).
Due to the Green Party’s candidate Adrian Ramsay being engaged with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, the school welcomed Catherine Rowett in his place. The Liberal Democrat candidate, John Shreeve, did not attend.
Topics including National Service, local unemployment and lowering the voting age to 16 were discussed.
Rachael Bradford, deputy director of sixth form, said: “It was an engaging occasion, with students asking some probing and thoughtful questions.
“We were really impressed with the questions students devised and, in so doing, it demonstrated that certainly some 16-year-olds would be capable of voting with alacrity and intelligence.”
Later that day, Harleston Business Forum welcomed all of the candidates to a packed out St John’s Church to hear more about what they would do if they were elected.
The evening, chaired by resident Jon Duckworth, saw the six hopefuls asked about National Grid’s controversial Norwich to Tilbury pylons project, how they see services coping with the increase in new housing, child poverty, and how they will represent the farming community in Parliament.
Virginia Skoyles, of the business forum, said: “It was a very successful Question Time-type event with all the candidates.
“We are delighted to have been able to organise this for Harleston and the surrounding area, celebrating our new constituency.
“Hearing the candidates speak gave all who attended a much better idea of who they are and what they stand for.”
