The five candidates for the Rye and Hastings constituency gathered at St Mary’s church on Thursday April 30 to outline their plans for the country and for the local area. Chaired by Canon David Frost, the candidates each gave an opening statement, then responded to questions submitted by Rye residents in advance. About 150 spectators attended the hustings – organised by Churches Together – and the general consensus was that all of the candidates acquitted themselves well.
“Even the UKIP chap seemed quite normal” one Rye resident was heard to say at the end of the meeting. “Yes. I don’t really believe he is UKIP,” her companion replied.
The need to reform the fishing quota system was brought up by all the candidates when they were asked to identify key local issues.
Jake Bowers, Green Party, said that given that Rye is surrounded by a flood plain, it is a prime example of the threat and potential impacts of global warming. “Do you want to be an island again?” he asked. He said the area could see an expansion of micro-renewable projects, including solar and wind power, creating hi-tech jobs.
Sarah Owen, Labour, also addressed local renewable opportunities. She described how, recently, a German company had set up in Rye Harbour to develop solar technology systems. They had been on the point of taking on more staff when the Government decided to cut the solar tariff, making the business untenable. She believed that “fracking is a dead end”, a view shared by Bowers.
Local poverty was touched on by most of the candidates. Andrew Michael, UKIP, said that in 2007 Hastings was the 31st most deprived local authority in England and now is the 19th worst. UKIP would address this, he said, by purchasing run down homes and renovating them to create affordable homes. Owen also highlighted the issue: “I never thought I would see a food bank opening in Rye,” she said. The Rye branch of the Bexhill food bank opened in December.
Amber Rudd, Conservative, underlined the importance of economic growth and infrastructure development in addressing inequality and deprivation. As the fastest growing economy in the G20, this would enable a Conservative government to “invest in schools, skills the NHS and defence” she said.
Liberal Democrat Nick Perry has 15 years’ experience working in social and mental health care and wants to change the nature of regeneration initiatives that have taken place in the area: “We need more homes, not more half-empty office blocks or business parks.” Schooling is also a priority for him and protecting and ultimately extending the education budget is a red line issue for his party, he confirmed.
In the 2010 election, Rudd beat the Labour incumbent, Michael Foster by less than 2,000 votes. Hastings and Rye is number 30 on Labour’s target list of constituencies to take in 2015.