“They are all the same” is a common refrain when people talk politics. Those members of the community who ignored that common blandishment and turned up to a general election hustings debate in Chaddesden learned this is not the case.
Hopefully they will tell their friends and they will end up voting. This was the reason for organising a hustings in an area that rarely sees a leaflet, let alone a real live political candidate for Westminster. Cooked up on and off in the expectation of the next election, the idea was to be able to address issues of local relevance and connect them to some big issues as well.
Who came, and who didn’t?
Despite multiple invites and attempts to secure a stand-in, the incumbent conservative MP, Amanda Solloway, did not participate (I had to go all the way to CCHQ to get a “no” both to the candidate and to a stand-in).
But Helen Hitchcock from the Green Party, Catherine Atkinson for the Labour Party, and Tim Prosser of Reform UK (all candidates), and Cllr Emily Lonsdale standing in for the Liberal Democrat candidate, all came alone to St Philip Church in Chaddesden, a suburb to the east and north of Derby. St Philip is a venue that also serves as a community hub and hosts several local community groups, from Brownies to mental health. It has community cafes and warm hubs. Locals live at the sharp end.
The meeting was chaired by Canon Julian Honeywell, local vicar and member of the Church of England’s General Synod.
Politicians in the flesh
The event covered local issues, including the NHS, cost of living, education, opportunities for young people, Ukraine and security in Europe, and relations and trade with the European Union. This was a broad range of topics for an audience that was not that big, but was interested. Candidates engaged positively, a world away from controlled sound bites on radio and TV news, let alone social media rage.
One participant commented “the politeness of the representatives was in stark contrast to their televised leaders”.
In person, candidates’ experiences, personalities, preferences, abilities, and opinions came through. There were even a few ‘more in common than divides us’ moments. But there was much difference too.
What matters to voters in Derby North?
There was a lot of local knowledge on display among the candidates. This included informative discussion on the Alstom train contracts, recently brandished as a “benefit” to Derby, but with several candidates noting that this could have been sorted out earlier. The Labour candidate pointed out that the 10-month delay for the Elizabeth line trains had cost the company other contracts, and many skilled workers who chose to head for jobs abroad under threat of redundancy.
The NHS came up – whether long waits to get through to a GP, or the difficulty finding an NHS dentist. Also crumbling schools and hospitals. This counts. This is the ‘local’ that reaches people. Along with the cost-of-living crisis – a year ago, nearly half of local people didn’t think they could afford to heat their homes. Many remain in debt to energy companies. Local charities support many families by topping up prepayment cards.
Local SEND provision was criticised, as was the lack of much on disability in most manifestos.
Education discussion focused on low attainment in the city compared to other areas, with discussion of Covid-19 legacies, and the need to invest in schools, and provide meals, mental health support and support to staff. The debate here was progressive. But there was also a call to give young people back the opportunities Erasmus gave, and to support early years, with criticism of the cancelling of Sure Start.
There was a question on how to make young people proud to be British – to which the answer was: offer them opportunities, including by restoring art and culture to schools, and trips with geography and history teachers. This was all a little bit reminiscent of the 1934 novel Mr Finchley Discovers His England, but important nonetheless: young people need to be included, feel included, and be supported: “invest in them – do not force them to serve”.
The EU question and international relations
Investment was a big theme – or more specifically, the lack of it over the past decade or so.
Derby’s flood defences were funded by the EU – and the lack of replacement was discussed. Greens and Lib Dems would rejoin the EU. Reform chastised the government for not replacing European funding. But all want defences, and sensible measures such as tree cover, and better land management, and no more housebuilding on flood plains.
Better relations with the EU are also wanted by most candidates to improve food trade and reduce dependence on imports from further afield, and more support for British farmers by all.
Most want to help Ukraine, and address Russian and other electoral interference – most, but not all (go on, have a guess who dissents).
Migration matters
If Greens and Lib Dems were positive on migration, Labour and Reform focused on faster processing of claims, but with reduced migration as a goal, with training for British workers to take on jobs, and less or no unskilled migration.
However, one comment was that “you are more likely to be treated by a migrant than blocked by one”, and that “migrants should be welcomed so they can also love this country as their own”, with family reunion routes restored, along with provision of safe routes. The equation of asylum seekers with illegal migration was criticised.
Hustings matter
A final question was “who lives in the constituency”? This counts for voters: local knowledge, and dependence on and use of local schools, and surgeries.
Congratulations to those candidates who came – it shows respect to the community. The community may well judge those who did not come harshly. One participant noted “There was no one from the Conservatives: perhaps they felt that their record speaks for itself”.
The hustings may have appeared to be dying, but in the age of misinformation and online amplification of extreme voices, we may need them again.
Information on the Derby North candidates can be found here.
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