By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Residents will have the chance to put their questions to candidates seeking election in the two main Southampton constituencies.
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Hustings events have been organised in the coming weeks for the Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test contests.
Polling day takes place on Thursday, July 4, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call the general election last month.
Southampton Itchen constituency hustings
Oasis Academy Mayfield in Ashley Crescent will welcome the Southampton Itchen candidates for hustings from 7.45pm on Wednesday, June 19.
The event is open to the public and free to attend, with no pre-booking required.
Paul Woodman, from Oasis Hub East Southampton, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We know we will have a new MP for the Southampton Itchen constituency and so we are hosting this hustings at Oasis Academy Mayfield for the local community.
“At the event, people can meet the candidates or parties of those standing.
“We have invited all candidates and all of them have already confirmed they’ll be attending.
“On the night, there will be time for questions from the general public to the candidates.
“We hope it will be an informative evening for everyone ahead of the general election on July 4.”
Southampton Test constituency hustings
In Southampton Test, Churches Together in Shirley has organised an event for Monday, June 24.
The hustings will take place from 7.30pm in St James’ by the Park Church at the corner of Bellemoor Road and St James Road.
St James’ by the Park vicar Dan Clark told the LDRS: “Democracy is a precious institution, built on the Christian understanding that all people are equal before God.
“Churches Together in Shirley are holding this hustings because we want to encourage local people, whether Christians or not, to hear first-hand from the local candidates.
“As Christians, we’re also told to pray for those in authority – and it will be easier to pray for our future MP if we’ve had the chance to meet them.”
The event is open to anyone living in the constituency.
Residents can submit questions online in advance of the event by visiting stjamesbythepark.org/questiontime.
The candidates residents can vote for in the general election are listed below.
Southampton Itchen
James Edward Batho – Liberal Democrats
Declan Peter Clune – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Alex Culley – Reform UK
Neil McKinnon Lyon Kelly – Green Party
Darren James Paffey – Labour Party
Sidney Yankson – The Conservative Party Candidate
Southampton Test
Katherine Jane Barbour – Green Party
Ben Burcombe-Filer – The Conservative Party Candidate
John Peter Edwards – Reform UK
Maggie Fricker – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Thomas Stephen Gravatt – Liberal Democrats
Satvir Kaur – Labour Party
Wajahat Shaukat – Workers Party
Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash
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