Health, wealth and the Scottish independence referendum were top of the agenda as The Courier’s series of general election hustings came to Angus.
A vocal and informed audience attended the Webster Theatre in Arbroath to hear and discuss the issues at the county’s heart.
Our panel was composed of all six of the Angus prospective parliamentary candidates, with discussion chaired by The Courier’s political editor Kieran Andrews.
Members of the audience had the opportunity to quiz David Mumford (Scottish Green Party), Mike Weir (SNP), Sanjay Samani (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Gerard McMahon (Scottish Labour), Derek Wann (Scottish Conservatives), and Calum Walker (Ukip).
The debate was held in association with the Dundee and Angus Chamber of the Federation of Small Businesses, and audience questions centred on changes to dementia and elderly care in Angus, and also the prospect of another independence referendum following the general election which former MP and SNP candidate Mike Weir was quick to rubbish.
Mr Wann told the audience: “Let’s be in no doubt that if the SNP get the amount of 50 MPs predicted, there will be another referendum.”
Mr Weir said: “We have made it abundantly clear this election is not about a referendum.
“We are not trying to re-fight the referendum, although it seems at times other parties are trying to re-fight the referendum.”
Audience members told how communities are concerned by perceived privatisation of the NHS, following changes to how care services are being delivered.
One gentleman said dementia ward changes in Arbroath have brought the issue home in particular.
The Rev Mumford said the NHS is becoming a cash cow for the private sector in England, that the national model is not fit for purpose, and privatisation leads to “cherry picking” by private firms for profit.
Mr Weir said palliative and dementia care is not being privatised in Angus, but said NHS communication was “woeful to start off with” because changes were under way before the public were told.
Local FSB vice-chairman Charles Goodall asked how each party would protect small businesses against late payments from larger ones.
Calum Walker said “huge companies” who use smaller ones “as a cheap source of credit” should be investigated by the HMRC.
And Mr McMahon said it was a “responsibility” of business owners to make sure “everyone is paid on time”.
One gentleman asked Mr Weir whether disciplinary action faces SNP members, as discussed in the media following the party’s spring conference, if they do not “toe the line” on policies.
“It’s not a law,” he replied. “It’s rules for a parliamentary group, to take into account we may have a much larger parliamentary group. They are sensible rules to govern any large group there is no way anyone is going to be gagged.”
Mr Samani said: “Sometimes it infuriates me as a Liberal that colleagues say something ridiculous but that’s our right to do so.”
* Our hustings series continues next week in Glenrothes and Birnam. Click here for more details.