Hustings

Along with the other main parliamentary candidates for North East Cambridgeshire, I took part in the hustings organised by the Cambs Times at Neale Wade Community College in March.

Some interesting questions, starting with 'Are you a practising Christian?'. It appears from our responses that none of us lay claim to that title, though the Conservative candidate's answer "I go to church, but I'm not a practising Christian" must have struck some as a little eccentric.

What's our view on pensions and bus passes? (See our policies for older people here). The Civil List - should the Queen have to make savings like the rest of us? (I'm a monarchist, but yes). Bishops in the House of Lords being able to determine the law on dignity in dying? (Time to shut down the House of Lords entirely and replace it with an elected second chamber).

Families? (The Conservatives' plan for a 'marriage bonus' makes me really angry: it judges families, penalises many people working hard in situations which are no fault of their own, only reaches one-third of families - of whom only one-third have children, and wastes half a billion pounds when David Cameron has already admitted that people don't get or stay married for money. So what's the point?).

Removing Gordon Brown from Number 10? (Sounds as if the voters might be about to do that). Punch & Judy in the House of Commons? (The other candidates seem to enjoy the knockabout, but personally I think all those shouting matches are just appalling).

Banks? (They've behaved disgracefully, still don't seem to understand this, and need to be broken up). MPs' salaries? (A considerable number of MPs have behaved disgracefully, but we mustn't allow ourselves to forget that, done properly, it's an exhausting, 7 day a week job played out in the public gaze with little time for family or normal life).

Public transport? (Tell me about it! We really need improved rail connections and the County Council to show some interest in holding commercial bus providers to account on behalf of the travelling public). Aid to developing countries? (All of us agree that we need to do more; interesting, as an aside, that it's the church community in NE Cambs that has been most vocal in writing to me about this during the campaign).

Global warming? (Lots of things we can do, including the little things - insulation of buildings, micro-turbines, cleaner-technology buses). Village life? (Worrying to see so many shops and services leaving our market towns and villages over the years). The UK in disarray? (I remark at the sense of hope that even people like me who didn't vote Labour felt when Blair was elected in 1997, and how that had been squandered). Education? (Tuition fees should be scrapped. Liberal Democrats will do so over six years - not, as the Conservative candidate said, in six years' time. If he doesn't know the difference I'm not going to ask him to negotiate a loan for me).

MPs' surgeries? (Very important for MPs to be available and accountable to their residents). GPs' surgeries? (Why do you have to register with the GP where you live, rather than where you work? We've said we'll give people the choice). Our 'legacy' to the area? (Gosh, it's a bit early to be thinking about that, isn't it, when we've not even been elected yet? Education and raised attainment in our schools - it's vital for a successful economy).

The pound? (We should have a referendum on in-or-out-of-Europe if any such change is proposed). Immigration? (It's migrant labour that keeps much of our economy and local services going, but the administration of immigration is in total chaos and needs to be sorted out, restoring the proper entry and exit checks that the Conservatives and Labour dismantled, and a national border agency with police powers).

Quite a lot to be packed into an hour and a half, with efficient chairing by the inimitable John Elworthy from the Cambs Times.