Candidates put on the spot by students in pre-election debate
election “is all about trust”, while Mr Fearnley spoke about the environment, stating that “whatever we do about Brexit, that has to be superseded by what we do about the climate”. Graham Lockwood’s opening speech was a chance to express his wish for 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote, adding that young people are “the leaders and the future of this country”.
After introducing themselves to the audience, candidates were asked a series of questions on topics including social care, education and the environment.
“With the Labour Party promising no tuition fees,” one student asked, “how are you guys (Labour) going to make sure the university system doesn’t end up with the same faults our state school system has of underfunding and understaffing?”
If the education system is “fully funded”, replied Mr Fearnley, something Labour would achieve through putting taxes up for anyone earning more than £80,000, “it’s perfectly reasonable and indeed sensible that we have an education system that is not based on people coming out of higher education with £50,000 worth of debt.”
Speaking on the same issue, Mr Goodwill said instead that the current system “does work” and that the debt is “manageable to pay back”.
During the debate the Conservative candidate, who has been the town’s MP since 2005, was also challenged on his voting record, having previously voted against same sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
In answer to the question, Mr Goodwill explained it was a matter of devolution, arguing that it was “up to Northern Ireland” to decide on the issue.
Finally, the panel were asked if they trust their party leaders. Although all of them replied positively, Mr Fearnley encouraged students to “look at the policies before focusing too much on the individual candidates”.
The students who attended the event said the debate was “interesting” and “useful”.
Sixteen-year-old Hugh Stanway who’s passionate about politics, said: “It’s very important that they involve young people in this election because in essence it’s going to be the election that affects us the most in terms of climate change and Brexit.
“All three of them performed really well and it certainly cleared up a lot of issues I had.”