Candidates face off in passionate political debate at Blackpool hustings

Students at the Blackpool Sixth Form hustings

Political candidates vying for a Blackpool seat in the upcoming general election gathered for a passionate debate in the hopes of winning over the town’s youngest voters.

But one politician left an empty chair at the hustings at Blackpool Sixth Form College on Wednesday.

Paul Maynard, Conservative candidate for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, failed to appear at the six-man debate, which was attended by fellow Tory Scott Benton, Labour’s Gordon Marsden and Chris Webb, Independent Andy Higgins, Liberal Democrat Bill Greene and the Green Party’s Duncan Royle.

They discussed party promises, the economy, climate change and the looming shadow of Brexit with students at the hour-long meeting, which was organised by the college’s politics club.

Left to right: Scott Benton (Conservative), Chris Webb, (Labour), and Gordon Marsden (Labour).

Mr Maynard told The Gazette he did not attend was because he had a meeting with Chancellor Sajid Javid ‘to demonstrate the value of the Enterprise Zones in our local area and to make the case for further inward investment and regeneration’.

He said: “I have, of course, already had an opportunity to meet with students at Blackpool Sixth during this election campaign. They were able to question not only myself, but also the Secretary of State for Education on issues which are important to them.”

Blackpool South candidate Mr Benton clashed with Labour rivals at the hustings in an argument over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Benton said the party was ‘embarrassed’ by Mr Corbyn and branded him ‘the most unpopular opposition leader we have ever had’.

Left to right: Duncan Royle (Green Party), Bill Greene (Lib Dem), Andy Higgins (Independent), student Oskar Galazka, Scott Benton (Conservative), Chris Webb, (Labour), and Gordon Marsden (Labour).

But Mr Webb said: “Compared to Boris Johnson, I’d have Jeremy Corbyn any day of the week."

Each candidate was given the chance to express their key goals to students.

Duncan Royle, Green Party candidate for Blackpool North, said: “The number one priority is climate change. We are going to invest £100bn a year to transform our energy system, so that we are carbon neutral by 2030.