gillian lord assistant news editor

If last night’s hustings were a TV show, they wouldn’t have gone amiss as Midsomer Murders,

As Dundonians questioned candidates at the Counting House in DC Thomson’s refurbished Meadowside offices, the cast of characters tempted a bit of dramatic licence.

In a green little village somewhere, Independent Sean Dobson would not be unlike the amiable bloke with the labrador that inevitably finds the body.

Labour’s Lesley Brennan could be well cast as a potter, or even a basketweaver, a Joni Mitchell devotee with a penchant for tie-dyed dresses and pausing mid-sentence – indeed, when she says things like “peace, human rights and universal law as part of a values-led foreign policy”, you kind of expect her to say “peace, love and understanding” instead.

Chris McIntyre would not be misplaced as the earnest suitor of a village girl, armed with idealism and resolution and probably wearing corduroy.

The other (older) Chris, SNP’s Chris Law, would be the interesting stranger who strides into town, obviously from a colourful past, who soon has the village talking.

Conservative Eleanor Price would likely be one of those talkers, and also a sharp-tongued bridge club member known for the strong feelings she elicits in others. Almost certainly she would be questioned by DCI Barnaby – or in last night’s case, the Courier’s Kieran Andrews.

Not only did he question Ms Price, he also had words with her when she ordered a member of the public out of the room in a flash of temper. “You are not in charge of this debate”, he reminded her firmly. “I am.”

As brutal as politics is though, there were no deaths in last night’s debate, just moments of high political feeling, mainly around housing, jobs and social problems in Dundee.

Eleanor Price’s tough talking (on child benefit caps – or the rape clause, if you prefer) drew gasps, while Lesley Brennan scored points when she said, never mind about Jeremy (Corbyn) forgetting his childcare figures, David Cameron forgot his child in the pub.

And in the way of villages everywhere, it was also a family night.

The chairman took a question from his dad, and the young man in the school uniform asking strong questions – he’s this scribe’s nephew.

But you had to be there.