At the hustings
The final West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency hustings before the general election were held at Westhill community church on Thursday 27th June.
Hannah Scott reports.
The evening kicked off with an opening statement from each candidate before moving on to questions from the audience.
Kate Blake (Labour), an Aberdeen city councillor, began with her education sector background and the Labour tradition, saying she would be “the change we need”.
Andrew Bowie (Conservative) came next, MP from 2017 to 2024. He largely talked about the fact it had been a privilege to serve as MP.
William Linegar (Scottish Greens) was not able to attend but his colleague Esme Houston came along in his place. She said, “Vote like your future depends on it.” She proposed a mature brand of politics and a complete upheaval to the current system.
The constituency has a couple of Independents standing. Despite very little backing from anyone, they were able to voice their views and their hopes if elected. Iris Leask, who was initially supposed to stand as a Reform UK candidate, said that without a party line to follow, she would attend to matters most important to constituents. David Neillsaid something very similar.
Brandon Innes (Reform UK) didn’t turn up.
Glen Reynolds (SNP) said we should put people at the heart of politics. “It’s not about us, it’s about the people who put us there to represent them.”
Michael Turvey (LibDem) said the oil and gas sector meant a lot to him. Having worked in the energy industry for 17 years, he feels that only his party understands the needs of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.
Then came audience questions.
What is each party doing to tackle poverty – and what are the plans for foreign aid?
Andrew Bowie said that the number of people living in poverty was the reason he got into politics in the first place, also he was proud that the Conservatives were responsible for reducing foreign aid.
Esme Houston, who is actually standing for the Scottish Greens in Aberdeen North, pointed out that historically the UK has a lot to answer for in terms of the economic downturn in the global south so we should share their burden by increasing foreign aid.
Iris Leask thinks the government takes too much in taxes and power should be given back to the individual so they can make the decision themselves. They could donate their money to causes overseas should they choose.
David Neill, as regards to his background in education, said that we should take children to the UK and educate them here. As they reach adulthood, they can be sent back to their own country.
Glen Reynolds pointed out that 12 per cent of children in the constituency live in poverty, a priority for the SNP. Also the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment, an extra £25 a week to low income families, has helped combat benefit cuts coming from Westminster. He added that carrying on with foreign aid allows us to share the burden of poorer countries that could prosper in the long run.
Michael Turvey followed by saying, “Our lack of economic growth shouldn’t be passed down to the poorest countries. Increasing foreign aid is the right thing to do.”
Kate Blake explained that we do not see the extent of the suffering that takes place elsewhere in the world but Labour is committed to increasing foreign aid.
How do candidates plan to combat pensioner poverty?
The Scottish Greens believe that the pension age should be lowered and the triple lock kept by the next government – also that the WASPI women deserve to have their compensation right now which the current government refuses to do.
Iris Leask repeated the sentiment that all OAPs deserve a pension that they can live on comfortably. She also repeated the view that WASPI women deserve their compensation now.
David Neill pointed out that as an “oldie” himself, he knows that the state pension isn’t enough – and that in an independent Scotland we could increase the pension and take our money back from the English.
Glen Reynolds said that there are ways for pensioners to receive extra benefits but there is such a stigma – and it’s such a long process – that they find themselves closer to the breadline as the cost of living crisis continues. He mentioned that earlier in the day, as a serving councillor, he brought forward a motion for Aberdeenshire Council to support the WASPI women but it was amended comprehensively by the ruling Conservative-LibDem group, completely changing its intent.
The LibDem candidate essentially gave a different version of Glen Reynolds’ response but he did say his party wanted to increase pay for carers.
Labour wants to protect the triple lock on pension payments, reduce energy bills by improving housing insulation and consider the findings of the WASPI women report. Only then will they look to see if compensation is payable.
Andrew Bowie said that his personal view was the WASPI women should be the first priority for the new government.
Assisted dying is a hot topic in Holyrood, not so much in Westminster, but what do the candidates think?
With no party line, Iris Leask came in with a personal viewpoint, an analogy used time and time again, “You wouldn’t let an animal suffer the way that some people suffer.”
She added, “But it’s impossible to know exactly how we put that legislation and keep people safe.”
David Neill said that when he knows it’s his time, he will sail out on his boat and set fire to it.
Glen Reynolds echoed the thoughts of many. “It’s a long process but we do have to look at this case by case. The short-term solution is to invest in palliative care. We have to make sure there are safeguards, it is a personal choice but we have to keep people safe. Each case on its own merits.”
Michael Turvey brought up his religious beliefs, saying that they influenced his views and that assisted dying is wrong. However, there was some confusion over his views on assisted dying and suicide – two separate issues.
Kate Blake supports the debate but wants to ensure there are safeguards.
Andrew Bowie didn’t give a yes or no but respects that there is a debate happening in the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Greens believe that as long as someone is competent and capable, they should have the option to choose when and how their own life ends.
What about Hill of Fare wind farm?
David Neill said, “Not in my back yard.” He supports the move towards community solar panels.
Glen Reynolds indicated that nobody supports the project in its current form. “There needs to be community consultation that gets listened to, and acted on. They have to weigh up the environmental impact and community wishes,” he said.
Michael Turvey mentioned, once again, his 17 years in the energy industry. Noting that we have to transition from oil and gas to a more sustainable power source, he suggested an offshore grid and said, “We have to do this right.”
Kate Blake is not in favour. Saying that impacted communities have things happen to them, rather than for them – and community views are undervalued and unheeded.
Andrew Bowie claims his party are the only ones doing anything about a just transition. He said moves to net zero have to be made but the communities have to be taken forward in the decisions.
Esme Houston surprised no one by being particularly vocal that we must push towards net zero targets and renewable energy.
Iris Leask closed the discussion by telling a story about how people are seeing wind turbines turned off as there isn’t enough storage for the amount of energy they produce. She also said that locals who are affected by changes must be listened to.
Your stance on immigration and asylum seekers?
Glen Reynolds began the discussion saying that there is an economic advantage to inviting more people to the UK. It is the slow moving system that backdates applications that is the problem, not the fact people are coming to the UK to escape poverty and war. “At a local level we have a moral obligation to look out for these people,” he said.
Michael Turvey asked, “Who is your neighbour?” He expressed the view that we have lost the backing of the European Union to share the burden but we should instead be welcoming people and making timely decisions.
The Labour stance: we should allow skilled workers in and clear the backlog.
Andrew Bowie came out in defence of the Rwanda plan on the grounds that it acts as a deterrent.
Esme Houston said we should be welcoming people, shielding them from war and poverty, as a moral obligation.
Iris Leask stated that she supports the underdog but believes that it’s likely that illegal immigrants are terrorists. She added that she will always help the law-abiding.
David Neill believes that all immigrants should be made to wear a wristband so they can be easily identified.
An audience member who spent his entire career in the NHS asked the candidates how they would save it?
Michael Turvey began by pointing out that it is at the heart of the LibDem manifesto to bring stability to the NHS – but failed to tell the audience how his party planned to do it.
Scottish Labour is committed to 160,000 additional extra GP appointments and improving the working lives of NHS staff but again there was no detail as to how this will be done.
Andrew Bowie said that despite the money being ploughed into the NHS, we are left wondering where this money is actually going. He believes it should lie with the NHS to fix these problems themselves.
“The biggest threat to the NHS is privatisation”, said Esme Houston. “The system would be enshrined in an independent Scotland.”
Iris Leask’s views resonated with the audience, alleging that there is a lot of money being wasted on senior management which would be better employed elsewhere.
Since Covid, David Neill said he hadn’t been able to talk to his GP. “Bring back matrons in our hospitals,” he cried.
Glen Reynolds said that since Brexit, our ageing population has suffered greatly and the mental health care system has fallen into disrepair. Focusing on the most vital services first is the only way to save our NHS.
Zero hours contracts, do they have a place in modern society?
Citing her background in the education sector, Kate Blake pointed out that job insecurity is harmful to students’ wellbeing and to teachers, moving from one place to another short term.
Andrew Bowie suggested that zero hour contracts can be helpful for students and people with childcare issues, saying he is generally in favour.
Esme Houston referenced her own experience working a zero hour contract job which left her collapsing at the end of a 12-hour shift. “Businesses benefit from them at the expense of their employees,” she said.
Iris Leask pointed out in her 40 years running a business she never even considered offering zero hour contracts and they were morally wrong. She demanded to know who came up with the idea and why.
David Neill was of the same thought, “There is no benefit to the worker and that’s who I wish to represent.”
Glen Reynolds brought up the detrimental effect they have on people’s mental health, work-life balance and childcare commitments, “They have no place in our society.”
Michael Turvey said that for some it may suit their lifestyle but people should always have the option to challenge such contracts. The LibDems suggest that those on zero hours contracts should be paid 20 per cent more than those on a fixed-hour contract and that after 12 months on zero hours, people should be offered the opportunity to change to a fixed contract.
With the questions concluded, the candidates were able to give closing remarks.
Andrew Bowie claimed he would champion the constituency as the Energy Sector Capital, speak up for the constituency in Westminster, that he cares about the North East and would always provide an explanation for anything he did in Westminster.
Esme Houston urged that we all adopt a mature brand of politics, telling the audience once more to, “Vote like your future depends on it.”
Iris Leask reiterated that without a party line, she can bring the people’s voice to Westminster. “The previous governments had their chance but they’ve all messed up,” she said.
David Neill would strive for an independent Scotland, and would offer real democracy, getting people to vote through his website on issues he would bring up at Westminster.
Glen Reynolds promised to represent the area with humility and empathy for his constituents. He said, in an echo of Theresa May, “Politics isn’t about you, it’s about the people you represent.” Andrew Bowie, who worked for Theresa May, applauded that.
Michael Turvey went back over his opening statements but with more emphasis – this had been somewhat lacking from the LibDem throughout the evening.
Finally, Kate Blake correctly mentioned that people want change, that was time to make history. She did not specify how.