Election rivals face head-to-head battle
CANDIDATES will go head to head in a bid to win votes at two General Election hustings events in Macclesfield.
The first will be a younger person’s event for under 30s at Tytherington School, on Manchester Road, on Saturday, December 7, from 4pm.
And then another, which is open to everyone, will take place at St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield Market Place, on Monday, December 9, from 7.15pm.
All four candidates have been invited - James Booth (Green Party), Neil Christian (Liberal Democrats), Neil Puttick (Labour) and David Rutley (Conservative).
Each will be able to make their case to be elected Macclesfield’s next MP in short presentations about national and local issues and what they will do for the town.
This will be followed by live questions from the audience.
Lynne Jones, one of the organisers, said: “We believe it’s important that Macclesfield residents have the opportunity to see, hear and question the candidates together.”
The team behind the event see the Tytherington School husting - held in partnership with other schools across the town - as particularly important to increase turn out with younger voters.
They say overall turnout in the 2017 election in Macclesfield was 72.38 per cent - slightly above the national average.
But across the country the number of under 35s to cast a vote was well below that.
With a focus on issues, both nationally and locally, that affect youngsters it is hoped this statistic will be reversed in Macclesfield in 2019.
Both events are supported by Hope, the organisation of churches in north east Cheshire.
Tickets for the event will be free and there’s no need to book.
However, to guarantee a place at the St Michael’s event and to have a chance to submit a question in advance, register via www.eventbrite.co.uk for ‘Macc Hustings 2019’.
For further information contact macchustings2019@gmail.com.