Stratford’s parliamentary candidates faced the public for the Herald and KES hustings; plus exit poll results
FOR most people the Stratford Herald and KES hustings was the first opportunity to hear from Stratford’s parliamentary candidates in the flesh.
There was a charged atmosphere in the Levi Fox Hall at KES as most of the candidates confessed to nerves ahead of taking a seat at the podium-mounted table ready for the scrutiny of the 700-strong audience of Stratford voters and, as it turned out, hecklers.
The candidates were: Seyi Agboola (Labour), Chris Clarkson (Conservative), James Crocker (Reform UK), Neil O’Neil (New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership), Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat) and Kevin Taylor (Independent). The Green Party declined to have their candidate Doug Rouxel as they did not want to risk splitting the vote.
The only one on the stage looking totally relaxed was host Will Hanrahan. The veteran broadcaster, known for presenting BBC’s Watchdog and Good Morning, runs his own production company from the town and is a passionate advocate for Stratford. He’s funny and sharp with the air of a good-humoured pitbull ready to protect the town from unworthy politicians.
Before the meat of the hustings began – where the candidates responded to questions put by Herald readers – the wannabe MPs introduced themselves, which we’ve summed up here along with their more memorable moments.
Head to the Herald website for the full broadcast of the hustings.
Nadhim Zahawi-replacement Clarkson was first to introduce himself, announcing he was “ripping the plaster off’ right away by talking about being a newcomer. First impressions are that he’s no Bullingdon posh boy, but talks a mile a minute with a northern twang and warm but combative manner. He’s definitely up for a fight.
Despite being judged on the government’s last 14 years – which has been a bit of a pickle of late – he is clear-headed on policy and shows his liberal side when he agrees that he’s a ‘one nation Tory’ – much to the approval of the Stratfordfordians present.
Perteghella only had to say “thank you” before she was greeted by uproarious applause, an indicator of the Lib Dem-dominated audience. Much of the Welford councillor’s intro is made up of listing her many worthy positions and projects in the area. She speaks passionately with a charming Italian accent. Known for her ready-smile and engaging manner in the district, on the night though there was a steely no-nonsense about her.
A highlight was her espousal of progressive taxation, which despite all the scaremongering from the Tories, seemed to be approved by those in the audience who want money spent on the NHS and public services.
Although we can guess Agboola’s African roots from his accent, besides learning he’s a financial analyst, it was harder to gauge who he is as a person from his intro – which largely consisted of rattling off some Labour manifesto policies and variously describing them and Sir Keir Starmer as “wonderful” and “fantastic” – not the way to win over a Stratford audience.
His lacklustre start further bombed when he later erroneously insisted Labour have come second in previous general elections. Despite shouts, boos and admonishments from the audience he refused to concede his error on this. If it were a game of Battleships, he would have been submerged at this point, sinking irretrievably under the podium.
Former City of London stockbroker Crocker (accent check: vaguely Midlands) confesses to “having some interest in politics” but says his greatest asset is “life experience”. Despite the Hallmark greeting card intro, the now Stratford native goes on to spout some fairly radical opinions. His promise to do away with net zero to save money draws grumbles; while his stance on immigration and allusion to “critical race theory” prove too much for one heckler, who repeatedly yells at Crocker for the fascism of his party before he storms out in a fury.
No such venom can be levelled at the likeable Taylor (accent check: good-humoured Black Country). The former Stratford mayor and Lib Dem town councillor has a few allies in the room, and possibly a few foes too given he is standing as an Independent, possibly taking a few votes from Perteghella. He speaks sensibly on issues – his account of how damaging Brexit has been was received particularly well – and is passionate about the area. But the reality is he is unlikely to have persuaded many to vote for him despite his worthy showing.
There seemed to be a collective eyeball rolling from the rest of the panel as O’Neil (accent: another Midlander) commences. He admits the “first non-politcal party in the UK does sound like an oxymoron”. And alas nothing he says on the night, including the outlining of parts of his often strange manifesto, sways public opinion in his favour.
Many important issues were discussed at the hustings. But the biggest cheer of the evening went to the questioner from the audience who asked the candidates how they would clean up politics and make it an honourable profession.
Whoever can do that would surely get everyone’s vote.
AND THE WINNER WAS….
FIRSTLY, we suggest you take these results with a large pinch of salt. On Monday evening, with the help of the sixth formers from King Edward VI School, the Herald carried out an exit poll of the hundreds of people who attended the hustings at the Levi Fox Hall.
Out of around 600 people who watched the six candidates answer questions and debate the issues, 306 put their mark by their preferred candidate and handed over their ‘ballot paper’ to the students for counting.
The result are in… and they went overwhelmingly in favour of Manuela Perteghella of the Liberal Democrats who received 195 votes – around 64 per cent.
So who was second? That was James Crocker of Reform UK with 45 votes (15 per cent) followed by the Conservatives’ Chris Clarkson on 31 votes (10 per cent) and Kevin Taylor, the independent candidate, who attracted 12 votes (four per cent).
Labour’s Seyi Agboola was next on 11 votes with Neil O’Neil, of Non-Pol, on seven votes and the Green Party, who did not want to be involved in the hustings, on three.
Two people also abstained.
What does this tell us? Well, it shows that the Liberal Democrat voters came out in force to support their candidate. That was evident on the night with the cheers for Manuela.
It also reinforces the knowledge that Stratford, as a town rather than a constituency, is a Lib Dem stronghold – Stratford Town Council is dominated by Liberal Democrats – and that, perhaps, the real battle for the Stratford-on-Avon seat is going to be won and lost in the other market towns – Alcester, Henley and Shipston – and the surrounding villages.
The rural vote could be the one to watch.
It also tells us that Reform UK has a following who are happy to spend a Monday night in a school hall to support their man (or men, as Nigel Farage seems to be the man with the pulling power). Will they finish second in the constituency? No. That would be a huge shock.
The feeling at the hustings is that it’s still a two-horse race – blue v yellow – with some interesting subplots provided by Reform and independent Kevin Taylor, who impressed more than a few on Monday night.
