CANDIDATES competing to be Stratford’s next MP went head to head at a husting.
Ahead of the voters going to the polls on December 12 the four Stratford constituency candidates took part in a debate at Stratford Girls Grammar School.
Labour’s Felix Ling, Liberal Democrat Dominic Skinner, Green Party candidate Dave Passingham and Conservative Nadhim Zahawi, who is defending the seat he has held since 2010, took to the podium in front of some 80 sixth formers who grilled the candidates on topics from Brexit and trust issues to funding NHS training for graduates and cutting carbon emissions.
Head of politics Dominic Giles said: “It was a robust discussion which everyone enjoyed.
“Our sixth formers are interested in politics and young people’s voices should be heard. They want to understand the policies so they can make a decision. I’m not sure they went away with their minds changed on who they would vote for but it was good to experience the debate. In the House of Commons politicians are angry and not always that polite but it’s not always like that. All four candidates were polite and civil to each other. They were all there because they think what they believe is good for the country so it was nice to see that it’s possible to disagree politely without being angry and shouting and rude.”
The school is also holding its own election with a pupil standing for each party.
Mr Giles added: “The pupils vote for policies and the candidates do a video and make posters. Labour won by two votes in the last one after all 800 pupils voted.
“We like to make it as real as possible for those going to vote so when they do it for real next month, it won’t be the first time.”
