Election ‘question time’ needed in Filey

There are calls for all of the candidates vying to be Filey’s next MP to hold a Question Time-style event in front of the town’s electorate.

Green Party candidate Chris Newsam has urged all five candidates to come together to speak to voters at one meeting, ahead of May’s election.

Despite several events scattered around the Thirsk, Malton and Filey constituency in the run-up to the May 7 election, Filey is a glaring omission on the campaign trail.

Mr Newsam feels this is a “sorry situation”, and has urged all the candidates to get together to let the people of Filey decide who they want to represent them in Westminster.

“It’s just a real shame that Filey’s been leftout , and I would like to think the voters will be given the chance to hear everyone before the election” said Mr Newsam.

So without a platform for all parties to have their say, the aspiring MP will instead visit Filey today, to talk to the town about local issues.

At the talk, entitled ‘Vision! Passion! Policies! Change!’, the Green politician said he’s wanting to talk about local problems with the townsfolk.

“We are going to talk about everything , from the fears about Filey Library to the train services,” said Mr Newsam.

“It’s an opportunity for people to talk about issues, and it’s an opportunity for people to come and talk to us.”

Currently, he will be joined by four other candidates , including Conservative Kevin Hollinrake.

He’s considered the favourite to retain the seat for the Conservatives, with the party enjoying a healthy majority.

However, he may yet face a spanner in the works in the shape of current MP Anne McIntosh, who has yet to reveal if she’ll run as an independent.

Di Keal, from the Lib Dems, Toby Horton from UKIP and Labour’s Alan Avery are also in the running.