Quote of the day 25th June 2024 - statement from Giles Watling

Below is a statement released by Giles Watling, Conservative candidate in Clacton, about the hustings which had been planned in the constituency, but which was cancelled because Nigel Farage's team failed to respond to repeated invitations to take part.

Incidentally, the Reform candidate for Clacton is not the only candidate for Reform or other parties who has not turned up to hustings in the relevant constituency.

There have, so far been four hustings in Leeds North East, all four of which I have attended. Of the eleven candidates standing here, six have made it to at least one hustings.

The five candidates who have not managed to get to a single hustings in Leeds North East are the candidates representing the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Yorkshire Party, the SDP, and the Reform party. 

The Green candidate sent apologies - including for the Climate and Environment hustings. The Yorkshire party candidate twice indicated that he would attend, and then didn't. 

All four event organisers indicated that the Lib/Dem, SDP and Reform candidates had not replied.