Hustings

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I heard overnight that I've been chosen to ask a question at the hustings in Bradford-on-Avon tomorrow night.  It will be very interesting to hear our candidate's responses.

"Transport is now the biggest contributing sector to CO2 emissions, with just a 2% fall in recent times. And a typical journey by private car generates 3 times the CO2 as the same journey by public transport.

"So we are encouraged to use public transport but services are being reduced. Melksham lost six buses a day to Bath bus earlier this month. It looses trains in the middle of the day next month and that leaves service gaps of 2.5 hours. Bus fares went up in November. Rail fares go up in January. A lot of money has been spent on the railway – bringing more and faster trains to London from Chippenham and Westbury but at the same time degrading journeys witihin the Western Gateway area region.

"How will you and your party help to improve sustainable daily local public transport for the future in the Chippenham constituency, and for the region?"

An interesting evening ... and some interesting answers.

We have three very different candidates.  In a climate change hustings, the Conservative was always going to find the audience relatively hostile to her compared to the others.  The Labour policy seems to be that nationalisation and a bigger state will allow the government to sort out the wild excesses of business. Three candidates, one out of her depth, the other two find their feet. Whoever wins I look forward to working to improve transport in the way I suggest in my question it's needed.   Two candidates made suggestions to answer to the question; the third diverted off to what we have actually managed to achieve locally and looked to attach herself to that success, and pointed at the success of her government in investing in ... better LONDON services, overlooking the needs within the region and the "final mile" stuff.

[TaplowGreen]

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

[IndustryInsider]

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

Three female candidates and no males either?  Very unrepresentative. 

[grahame]

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

Three female candidates and no males either?  Very unrepresentative. 

Three who are strong and people first and foremost.  Yes, I did spot the smiley!

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

It's Bradford-on-Avon.  ... population around 10,000 and virtually inaccessible from Chippenham, Melksham or Corsham (the other towns in the constituency which are a little more mixed) except by car.  Noting it was specifically a climate friendly hustings ... which will also have moulded the audience.

[TaplowGreen]

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

Three female candidates and no males either?  Very unrepresentative. 

Three who are strong and people first and foremost.  Yes, I did spot the smiley!

Interesting demographic making up the audience. Appears to be entirely white and 60+. Not particularly representative?

It's Bradford-on-Avon.  ... population around 10,000 and virtually inaccessible from Chippenham, Melksham or Corsham (the other towns in the constituency which are a little more mixed) except by car.  Noting it was specifically a climate friendly hustings ... which will also have moulded the audience.

Probably reflects the 17,000 Conservative majority too! 

[Bob_Blakey]

Interesting demographic...Not particularly representative?

Impossible to tell but is that really an issue?; the makeup of most audiences will be governed by the willingness of individuals to attend (and buy tickets where necessary). In politics it is true that anybody who chooses not to engage in the process cannot complain about the outcome after the event.   

[TaplowGreen]

Interesting demographic...Not particularly representative?

Impossible to tell but is that really an issue?; the makeup of most audiences will be governed by the willingness of individuals to attend (and buy tickets where necessary). In politics it is true that anybody who chooses not to engage in the process cannot complain about the outcome after the event.   

No, it's not a truth, it's your opinion. Anyone can complain at any time. That's democracy, which trumps any process. It's not limited to the ballot box.

 Some people (with some justification) feel that none of those available for election represent their views with sufficient adequacy to deserve a tick in the box.

In my opinion, if younger people and those from BAME and other backgrounds (and I am sure that those exist, even in Bradford on Avon) are not engaged, it's incumbent upon Politicians to address this, and upon ourselves to ask ourselves why...……….although a quick look at those leading the major political parties may answer that particular question very easily!!!

[grahame]

Some people (with some justification) feel that none of those available for election represent their views with sufficient adequacy to deserve a tick in the box.

Indeed.  I was talking with someone who's an example of this today.  Firm and consistent voter in the past but reading the platform of each of our three candidates repeats 3 times "I can't vote for her because".

In my opinion, if younger people and those from BAME and other backgrounds (and I am sure that those exist, even in Bradford on Avon) are not engaged, it's incumbent upon Politicians to address this, and upon ourselves to ask ourselves why...……….although a quick look at those leading the major political parties may answer that particular question very easily!!!

There were young people at the hustings, and a number asked questions.  Being a midweek school night, they were towards the front (not where my snap showed) so they didn't have to stay to the end.  The real hole was not that generation, but the intermediate generation; I think there were a few but, yes, thinly spread.  Old data, but West Wilts is only 1 in 12 BAME and if I had the data to drill downing the 5 towns, I think I would find that the figure was even less in B-o-A, one of the 2 towns in this constituency.   Having said that, both SAME and LGBT were there and had a significant voice last night.   Can't always tell from a picture.

[grahame]

Pinging this to the top of the pile ... for Coffee Shop members, guests, and others ... a date for your diary. 26th June 2024 - Climate and Nature non-selective hustings to be held in the new Melksham and Devizes constituency.

Here is the audience from last time (hustings in 2019) ... and we are fortunate to have some of the key organisers from Bradford-on-Avon where this was held, as well as people from Colerne, Calne, Devizes, Lavington and Urchfont as well as from Melksham in the team.

Publicity is being gotten together and all five candidates approached, with four engaging for the evening.  Venue is in Melksham, timing so allow people from all the other major urban locations in the constituency to come and also to get home by public transport.