Candidate sparks hustings chaos

A debate on local health services descended into chaos after a candidate refused to take part. The hustings at Christ Church University in Canterbury on Thursday was billed as an opportunity for parliamentary candidates to answer questions relating to health and social care. At the last minute, Labour candidate Rosie Duffield had to pull out due to illness - leaving Labour representative Rita O’brien standing in.

But the debate broke into angry heckling before it even began, when the Lib Dems announced their Canterbury candidate Claire Malcomson would also not be taking part. Muttering broke out among the audience, before someone announced, “Claire is here”, prompting the entire crowd to crane their necks to the back of the lecture theatre, where Ms Malcomson was sitting quietly. Standing, and accepting a roaming microphone, she said: “I am here. Because it’s not a proper hustings now, I decided to back out - I’m very sorry. I’ve actually taken three hours to get here.”

Much muttering ensued, before another Lib Dem spokesman stood and said: “It’s not a proper hustings.”

But angry audience members continued to heckle, with one shouting: “You’re frightened to address a hostile audience.” Responding, the candidate said: “I just have addressed you thank you and I’m apologising - that is my decision.”

As the audience continued to express their dismay, Ms Malcomson promptly left the lecture hall through a back exit, to jeers of “bye”.