General election candidates standing in the Bridgwater and Burnham-On-Sea constituency have clashed over one of the candidates’ failure to attend any hustings during the campaign.
Several hustings have been held in the constituency, giving voters an opportunity to meet their candidates and grill them on a range of local and national issues.
Liberal Democrat candidate Claire Sully has hit out at her Labour rival Leigh Redman for failing to attend two hustings in the seat, claiming he refused to attend two additional events which led to both being ultimately cancelled.
Mr Redman said he had been focussing on meeting voters locally and had been unable to attend some of the events because he was providing childcare for his young grandson.
Ms Sully made her accusations after a farming-specific hustings, organised by the NFU and due to take place in Bridgwater on Thursday (June 27th), was called off.
She says: “The Labour candidate’s refusal to engage in a debate during this campaign is disappointing but predictable.”
“He has avoided scrutiny at every turn. I think he’s let down the residents of Bridgwater, Burnham-On-Sea, Highbridge and North Petherton by being absent from hustings during this campaign, depriving constituents of an opportunity to question him on his views and policies. Two hustings were held last week – one at Robert Blake School on June 20th, and one the following day organised by the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce.”
Two other hustings were cancelled in the northern end of the constituency – the Churches Together hustings in Burnham-On-Sea, and the Pride-On-Sea hustings in Highbridge.
Claire Sully adds: “If he cannot or will not stand up to and challenge the Conservatives, then I will.”
“This is reflective of Labour’s campaign more generally in Somerset. This week it was confirmed by the Financial Times that Labour was abandoning Bridgwater in favour of Plymouth, effectively admitting that they cannot challenge the Tories in Bridgwater, while the Lib Dems can.”
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday (June 26th) that Labour activists campaigning in Bridgwater and other parts of Somerset were being diverted to the election battle in Plymouth.
Mr Redman currently serves as the Somerset Council division member for Bridgwater North and Central, and has been continuing his council duties during the campaign – including chairing a meeting of its children and families scrutiny committee on Wednesday morning (June 26th).
Responding to Ms Sully’s claims, he said: “Despite how quickly I had to arrange my campaign, due to the timing of the election, I have tried to spend as much time out, knocking on doors in order to maximise my time face to face with people in the communities within our new constituency.”
“The response has been fantastic – not only are people excited about the prospect of a local Labour MP, they have also appreciated the opportunity to talk to me directly about the concerns and aspirations they have for the area. Since the election was announced we have knocked on more than 2,000 doors.”
“Unfortunately, this commitment to putting myself directly in front of voters, and other prior commitments, have meant that I have been unable to attend previously arranged hustings. It was disappointing to miss out on the chance to speak to the young people of Robert Blake but in that instance I was providing childcare for my grandson.
“I’m sure you can appreciate that family must continue to come first, in balance with campaigning. Due to pre-booked events and canvassing sessions, and needing to take my wife to hospital for an appointment, my attendance at hustings events has simply not been possible. It really is a privilege to be the Labour candidate for the constituency in which my home town of Bridgwater sits.”
The candidates standing to become MP in the Bridgwater and Burnham constituency are:
- Independent: Pelé Barnes
- Reform UK:Â William Fagg
- Conservatives:Â Ashley Fox
- Green Party:Â Charlie Graham
- Labour Party:Â Leigh RedmanÂ
- Liberal Democrats:Â Claire Sully
- Workers Party:Â Gregory Tanner
