St Mary’s was packed last night. An estimate of at least 300 turned up, and not all getting somewhere to sit. The pic above was taken well before everybody had arrived and it showed the level of interest in Marlborough in the forthcoming General Election. What the candidates had to say could – and maybe did – sway voting intentions.
All candidates were there to answer a series of questions and the evening was chaired with consummate control, and appropriate ‘prompting’ by chair, Keith Fryer.
The question asked of every commentator after every husting or debate amongst candidates – who won? But define ‘won’. We don’t have access to a system like the BBC ‘Verify’ so all we can do is judge by audience reaction. For those of us old enough, we may remember Hughie Green and ‘Opportunity Knocks’. The forerunner of the TV Talent show that launched the careers of many stars of the fifties onwards. The show relied on a ‘Clapometer’, or more scientifically named an ‘Audience Reaction Indicator’, which ‘measured’ (how?) the intensity of the audience applause to judge who went through. Yes, careers were built – or destroyed – by this wooden box. Which apparently exists in the Science Museum.
Would the 2024 version of Hughie Green’s box of tricks create or destroy the political careers of any East Wilts candidates? No, there isn’t such a device that we know of nowadays in use, but on the basis of what we experienced as audience reaction to each candidate, as they delivered answers to audience questions, three stood out – Danny Kruger (Conservative), Rob Newman (Labour) and David Kinnaird (LibDem), with more muted applause for the other three. OK, that’s not a ‘scientifically proven’ method of judgement, just what the ears came back with.
Are we going to attempt to cover every candidates answer to every question? No. One interesting observation was that the candidates who stood to answer, when they did they delivered their message to greatest effect and (likely) proved the strongest applause (and a few ‘whoops as well). The two who did most were Marlborough’s LibDem candidate David Kinnaird and sitting Conservative MP Danny Kruger. As well of course as chair Keith Fryer. Reform UK’s Stephen Talbot also stood for his initial contribution but it was David and Danny who were able to ‘command’ the stage with powerful elements of theatrical effect. Rob Newman, unable to do so for reasons of health.
Questions? The opening question was about water: very pertinent around here with the state of the Kennet and Thames Water’s sewage input being something that we all have great concerns about. Answers were pretty universal – critical of the water industry as it is, regulator OFWAT, and from many, the ‘commercial’ state of the industry which in the opinion of most candidates should be taken back under some form of proper national control. It is a service, a commodity, not something ‘nice’ to have and use. Severe criticism also (universally) for the senior executives – decision makers of the water cos., although not all panellists thought that they should be incarcerated into prison. But several candidates did, and audience reaction to those comments would have launched many a career in the days of ‘Opportunity Knocks’.
Lots else was covered – Education (VAT on private education?), NHS – general opinion that the health service and system should be rebuilt and refocused. Emphasis placed on prevention, early intervention lifestyle, and aiming to help early so as to improve health in later life. Pay nurses and doctors more? Yes, almost a universal opinion (even from Danny who’s party has long held out against this). And getting the dreaded waiting lists down. Universal agreement, although ‘how’ was more mixed.
Defence and Russia. Increasing spending on defence was agreed by all, although Green candidate Emily Herbert wan’t quite sure how much was being spent, or what proportion of GDP should be spent on Defence. David Kinnaird, ex-military, lambasted the MOD (or more precisely, Government) for letting the size of the army decline from 180,000 (when he signed up in 1987) to 67,000 in the current day. He was also incredulous at the current (outsourced) recruiting system (run by CAPITA) that is so ‘efficient’ that it will ‘only’ take about eighteen months for a new recruit to be processed (apologies for any sarcasm). Pete Force-Jones (True & Fair) was also very supportive of increasing defence spending ‘to 3% of GDP’ by the end of the forthcoming parliament. Stephen Talbot (Reform UK – ex-Naval officer – noted that during the Cold War, defence spending accounted for c.5% of GDP, and that we are possibly entering a similar situation with the threat of Putin’s Russia in Ukraine and Europe’s eastern borders. He didn’t echo the comments reportedly (in the Salisbury Journal) made by his fellow Salisbury Reform UK candidate that Putin seemed ‘very good’. Yes, the Salisbury candidate. In Salisbury.
Education: Although candidates differed in their attitude towards VAT on private education (Rob Newman very pro, Danny Kruger very anti), other candidates not so inclined one way or the other. A spending increase was essential, as was a programme of repairs to make schools buildings in which education can be conducted without the need for hard hats. More teachers, less ‘cover’, so less non-specialist teachers teaching specialist subjects.
Climate change: All considered it a real existential threat, although Reform Candidate Stephen Talbot not quite so emphatic as others. He commented that the wind turbines out in the sea areas were really being run by diesel motors. That China was the main beneficiary regarding solar farms (that’s where the panels are being made) and that we should all be encouraging ‘tidal’ energy. Technically he is correct about the wind turbines, as the blades do have to be rotated when wind is absent, just to keep bearings lubricated, but they don’t ‘spin’ under diesel power. Just move… Re. tidal, tried and considered many times over decades here, great idea in theory but enormous (and practical) hurdles to overcome that render this an unlikely option. He also proposed small nuclear reactors (as being proposed by Rolls Royce), viable, but not just yet. Still at early stage in development.
Overall, there was much more, and far greater details but this is intended to give a flavour of last night’s event. Who should you vote for? Not for us to say, but check out our ‘Election Special’ section (yellow, red and green button just above the headlines) and find out more about each of the candidates standing.
So next Thursday – the big vote. And a ‘small’ vote as well, as those voting in Marlborough West will be electing another Town Councillor. Caroline Wrench (Conservative) and Abi Beaumont (LibDem) are the candidates standing.
The only way to sum up an evening of political interaction and debate – use Keith Fryer’s final comment – an evening that demonstrated:
‘Democracy in Action‘
