The largest Isle of Wight hustings of the 2019 General Election campaign was held at Cowes Enterprise College yesterday evening (Thursday), with all 6 candidates being grilled by a boisterous – but predominantly left-leaning – audience of 400.
In their opening remarks, Conservative candidate, Bob Seely, declared his main aim if elected was to “get Brexit done”. Bob came in for some bitter criticism from independent pro-link campaigner, Carl Feeney, who described the sitting MP as “the worst MP the Island has had”. Daryll Pitcher, the pro-Brexit independent candidate, attempted to portray himself, rather than
Bob, as “the real Brexit candidate”.
In her opening statement, Green candidate Vix Lowthion claimed she offered Islanders the chance to vote for their first Green MP and first woman MP. Richard Quigley, for Labour, asked the audience to lend him their votes “to end Island poverty, on the basis that 5,000 Island children were living in poverty, and nurses were being forced to go to food banks”. Independent candidate Karl Love urged those in attendance to vote for him as “an independent voice, who was not party political”.
On the subject of education, Bob Seely claimed that education standards were improving, with the number of schools improving to good and outstanding rising from 51 to 75%. Bob accused his Labour opponent, Richard Quigley of wanting to scrap league tables, abolish free schools and threaten free schools. For Labour, Richard Quigley stated that per pupil funding had been cut in real terms. He said that: “If you spend more on shopping than you did five years ago, that does not necessarily mean you buy more goods, only that inflation meant that they cost more.”
The Green candidate, Vix Lowthion, claimed that “Victorian times were returning, with schools being funded by churches and charities, and children going to school without shoes.” She then
somewhat sensationally claimed that: “the earth is burning”.
Independent, Karl Love, criticised unnecessary alarmism and suggested some of the other candidates needed “a grip on reality.” Independent Brexiter, Daryll Pitcher, then added a touch of humour to the debate by stating: “Vix touched on global warming. We don’t need any more hot air in the room.”
The debate then moved onto homelessness, after a question as to why disused holiday camps weren’t being used to house those in need. Bob Seely claimed that rough sleeping was only a small problem on the Island.and praised the role of the Salvation Army. Richard Quigley, for Labour, said that one person homeless was “one person too many” and that his party would end homelessness in its first term. Vix Lowthion thought: “we should not rely on charity.”
The candidates were then asked whether any of them had ever taken drugs. 3 candidates, Vix Lowthion (Green), Richard Quigley (Labour) and Carl Feeney (independent pro-link) freely admitted having done so. 2 candidates, Daryll Pitcher (independent Brexiter) and Karl Love (independent), denied drug use. Conservative candidate, Bob Seely, refused to answer.
Towards the end of the hustings, candidates were asked what the potential benefits of Brexit were. For the Conservatives, Bob Seely mentioned “democratic control over politicians, no over-sized
fishing trawlers off our coasts and no live exports of farm animals.” Carl Feeney declared himself in favour of a no deal Brexit. Daryll Pitcher warned of the dangers of riding roughshod over democracy, and simply asked: “why should people vote if a 62% vote (on the Island) is ignored?” Karl Love said: “Whether we like it or not, Isle of Wight people voted to leave. If I became MP I would have no choice but to vote to leave.”
Opposing Brexit, Vix Lowthion could not think of a single advantage for leaving. She further claimed that: “Brexit is for rich people to avoid taxes.” Richard Quigley, for Labour, was also strongly opposed, claiming that Vestas would leave the Island. He thought the only answer was to hold a second referendum.
Many of the problems posed by the audience (homelessness, education, health provision) were answered by calls for greater expenditure by the candidates. It was only the Conservative candidate, Bob Seely, who questioned where the money for numerous spending pledges would be coming from. He further asked whether it was wise to “continually pour money into a bucket when there is a hole in the bottom?”
Independent, Karl Love, emphasised the point about not making unlimited spending pledges, by offering some Xmas chocolate money to Labour candidate, Richard Quigley, claiming he had
picked them from “the magic money tree.”
In the run-up to polling day on Thursday 12th December, Island Echo will be providing in-depth interviews with all candidates willing to be scrutinised by the Island’s leading online news
source.
