Rhetoric and promises at Halesowen hustings

More than 200 people packed into the Haden Cross Inn to see Tory James Morris, Labour's Stephanie Peacock, UKIP's Dean Perks and John Payne from the Greens make their case to be MP.

Flashpoints between the candidates included zero hours contracts, the closure of Halesowen Fire Station and the strength of the local economy.

The hustings was organised by The Friends of Haden Cross and was chaired by the group's founder Tim Haskey.

Each candidate was given two minutes to introduce themselves to the audience.

The tallest and most candid of the candidates Dean Perks was first on the stump.

He said: “I got into politics when I got involved in a save a school campaign and realised it was a foregone conclusion, I realised there was no democracy in this democratic country.

“So I joined Labour, but fell out of love with them, then I was invited to join UKIP. I am a local Black Country lad and am a councillor in Gornal, which is not an easy job but one I'm getting used to and will give my all for this constituency in Westminster.”

Next up was James Morris, wearing an open necked shirt, for the Conservatives who was faced with over 20 Labour councillors, activists and members at the front of the audience.

He said: “I have been MP for here for five years and have always tried to represent everyone in the constituency wherever they live.

“I have done everything in my power to create jobs here and have held annual jobs fairs.

“Unemployment is now 50 per cent lower than it was five years ago and the constituency, and Britain as a whole, face an important decision this election. I will fight for both Britain and the constituency at Westminster.”

The youngest of all the candidates Stephanie Peacock, aged 27, spoke next.

She said: “I will be a campaigning MP for the area I grew up in and still live in. I fought for a direct bus to the hospital from the constituency to be reinstated and I was there from the start with the campaign to save this pub (The Haden Cross).

“There are too many people in Halesowen and Rowley Regis who work hard but still don't make ends meet. This needs to change and Labour will help them.”

Veteran political activist John Payne, who campaigned against the Iraq War and for a plethora of other causes over the years, spoke next for the Green Party.

He said: “We need to take a longer term approach to the problems the country faces. Capitalism is not working and we are still suffering from the changes Thatcherism introduced.

“We will nationalise the railways and try and combat global warming.”

Questions from the audience ranged from the future of pubs, reinstating a defunct local railway line in Dudley and immigration - only Mr Payne said he was pro-immigration.

When the candidates were asked if they could live on a zero hours contract, all said no.

But when Mr Perks claimed Labour controlled Dudley Council hired 200 people on them, Halesowen councillors Hilary Bills, Ian Cooper and Donella Russell shouted “lies, lies” and the chairman reminded them he would not stand heckling.

The next issue to light the blue touch paper was when Mr Morris said he had worked with a coalition to try and save Halesowen Fire Station, which led to Miss Peacock and the Labour crowd loudly reminding him he voted for fire cuts at Westminster.

Miss Peacock accused Mr Morris of saying one thing in the constituency and voting another way in Westminster. However, he branded the attack “a bit silly” and said he had voted against his Government three times.

Then one of those rare breeds which excites all candidates asked a question – an undecided voter.

She asked: “I am 32, single and rent – can you all tell me why I should vote for you.”

All the candidates bar Mr Payne who thought the question was about housing promised to fight for local people. After the debate the candidates spoke at length with the voter, who did not want to be named.

After hearing all their pitches she said: “They all seem nice enough, I still have no idea who to vote for.”