Political forum would be welcomed (From Stourbridge News)

Political forum would be welcomed

1:20pm Saturday 28th November 2009

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IN reply to the letter from the Chairman of the Stourbridge Labour Club on November 12.

I am surprised he felt the need to respond on behalf of our resident MP, for I have always found Linda Waltho and her staff more than capable of answering any questions that may involve them.

I also remember Fred Hunt and our doorstep debate when he delivered pamphlets in our area, we were then part of the Brierley Hill ward in those days.

Regarding the Political Meetings/ Hustings which I well remember attending from the late 1940s until they appeared to fall out of favour and were replaced with ‘Press Communiques, local television and sound bytes’, which prevented the voting public from asking the awkward questions that had always been the customary practice of those days.

I believe it is a widely held opinion that these type of meetings/hustings give the voter the opportunity to question candidates as to their background or whether they are a ‘party disiciple’ or if they became an MP, whether they would have the courage and integrity to confront a government that may propose measures that would effect the constituents they represent, or if it ignores its manifesto pledges and is reluctant to punish MPs and officials who abuse parliamentary privileges and MPs who appear to be involved in unlawful practices, such as the malpractive reported in the national press during this parliamentary term.

Concerning the meetings held in 2005 can more of these meetings be held again in the run-up to the General Election and for candidates to appear together and for the meetings to be well publicised in our local press.

GH Downing Withymoor

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