Click below to hear the hustings in full:
Phoenix FM hosted Hustings for the Brentwood and Ongar constituency at the Holiday Inn, Brook Street, Brentwood on Thursday 25 May.
Paul Golder moderated the evening which included five of the candidates – Gareth Barrett (Labour), Alex Burghart (Conservative), Karen Chilvers (Liberal Democrat), Luca Kousoulou (Independent) and Mick McGough (UKIP). A sixth representative, Wendy Stephen (Green), stood in for candidate Paul Jeater who was unable to attend.
Almost 100 people attended the event and after an initial pitch, candidates fielded questions on a number of subjects including hospital care and recruitment, grammar schools, affordable housing, tax collection and the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.
The event was lively and heated at times, with passions particularly running high on the subjects of education and social care.
For the final question, panel members were asked to highlight the single reason which made them get into politics in the first place.
Paul Golder said that the questions posed revealed some interesting facts about what people really think.
“For an election that was supposedly called to settle the mandate on Brexit, I think we only heard the B-word once or twice in passing throughout the whole 90 minute debate. Immigration is supposedly another hot topic but no one expressed any views on this, either for or against.
“People in Brentwood are clearly more concerned about health, education and social care.
“All of the participants spoke with passion and eloquence and I would like to extend my thanks to them, and also to the people of Brentwood who came to listen to them.”
The show will be broadcast on 98.0 FM on Monday 29 May at 6pm and will also be available to hear online at phoenixfm.com and on mobile devices via the Phoenix FM app.
Also see: Phoenix FM’s 2015 general election hustings
Photos: from Bob Simpson (Phoenix FM) unless otherwise stated.