Quizzing the candidates22 April 2010
It's general election time. But how high on the agenda are prospective MPs putting the environment?
St Albans Friends of the Earth wanted to know what their five local candidates thought. So together with other local environmental organisations they held a 'Green Hustings'.
The event took place at a local church and the participants were:
- Anne Main - Conservatives
- Roma Mills - Labour
- Sandy Walkington - Liberal Democrats
- Jack Easton - Green Party
- John Stocker UK Independence Party
All the candidates - with the exception of John Stocker - agreed that climate change is a real threat, and most likely caused by human activity.
It was tremendous to see so many people coming along to the Hustings. I hope that the candidates saw that many voters in St.Albans are very motivated by green issues.
Amanda Yorwerth, St. Albans Friends of the Earth
Hot topics
The audience of over a hundred posed questions on a range of green issues including
- Energy
- Food
- Global finance
- The Green Belt
- Transport
The candidates were also asked about specific environmental policies they wished to introduce locally.
St Albans Friends of the Earths Green Hustings
Held to account
The group filmed the event so that they can hold the successful candidate to his or her promises in the next few years.
The event was a great profile raiser, and it was good to work with other groups like World Development Movement and Transition St Albans
Amanda Yorwerth, St Albans Friends of the Earth
Just rewards
Amanda - the group's Co-ordinator - was delighted with the turn out for the hustings but admits it was hard work to organise the hustings.
She says the group had to be very careful to ensure total fairness to all the candidates and keep political neutrality.
More on the election build-up
You can keep up to date with our thoughts on the election and what the parties are saying at http://election.foe.co.uk/
© St Albans Friends of the Earth
