Candidates split over ‘sixth form politics’ jibe at hustings
TORY HOPEFUL SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE EVENT BY THE BACK DOOR
It might sound like nothing but ... we are sadly taught to always be on our guard
Guy Renner-thompson
THE Conservative candidate for the North East mayoral race was forced to leave a hustings event via the back door after branding questions on the Israel-gaza conflict as “sixth form politics”.
Guy Renner-thompson said he did not feel the question, asked by a student at Northumbria University students union, was appropriate for the forum.
His comments provoked an angry reaction from some of the audience and he had to leave by the back door of the venue.
Speaking to The Chronicle, the Northumberland County Councillor said candidates should be able to voice their opinions without being threatened, and while some of Coun Renner-thompson’s opponents backed this stance, others called for an apology.
Coun Renner-thompson said: “We were there to discuss student issues on housing, transport and cost of living. But someone in the audience read out a pre-prepared question about ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
“I said that I we were there to discuss the North East, not the Middle East, and I wasn’t getting dragged into a sixth form politics session.
“The post-hustings photo was disrupted by shouting, which was ignored but then afterwards they were hanging around with a larger group by the main door waiting for me to come out.
“I snuck out the back door but they’d sussed that so I drove past them shouting and videoing me.
“It might sound like nothing, but after the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess, and constant death threats MPS in the region get, we are sadly taught to always be on our guard.
“People must be allowed to speak freely. Harassing politicians and those who put themselves up for election is bad for democracy and never acceptable.
“Politics should be like a game of rugby. You can knock seven bells out of each other on the pitch, but be able to shake hands in the clubhouse afterwards.”
Labour’s Kim Mcguinness defended her opponent and called on other candidates to do so.
She said: “No matter our political differences, I’ve always found Guy to be a decent person who cares about his community. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable.”
Liberal Democrat candidate Aidan King also raised concerns about the personal safety of politicans, saying: “Hustings are a vital part of our democratic process.
“They’re residents’ chance to directly grill candidates before they vote.
“They should always be challenging for candidates but they should never be unsafe.”
Reform UK candidate Paul Donaghy also backed Coun Renner-thompson and said: “It is a disgrace that my Conservative opponent was forced to flee from the event due to the behaviour by a minority of students.”
But Green Party candidate Andrew Gray called on Coun Renner-thompson to apologise, saying: “Guy had a right not to engage with the question asked of him, and to disagree openly with the student asking it.
“He did not have a right to denigrate the concern or to label it as ’sixth form politics,’ and for that he should apologise. Use of such demeaning language increases community tensions and the risks of hate crimes.”
Independent candidate Jamie Driscoll disputed the idea that the hustings was disrupted.
He said: “At every hustings we get asked about matters beyond the powers of the Mayor, and all candidates have been happy to answer.
“We don’t get to choose what people care about.
“A young woman asked a question about UK arms sales being used in Gaza, and listened respectfully to the answers. No-one heckled or disrupted the meeting.
“It’s clear to me international law is being breached in Gaza, and the UK Government and official opposition have been too weak in standing up for human rights and calling for a ceasefire.”
When asked by The Chronicle, Con Renner-thompson refused to apologise.