It’s Thursday, 27 June 2024, and the City Praise Centre hall is full of constituents; it’s warm, and the windows on both sides of the room are open. A local group, Churches Together in Gravesend, is hosting the only Gravesham hustings for the 2024 General Election.
The City Praise Centre Pastor, Graeme Baldwin, asks the candidates to give a 90-second opening statement. Members of the audience then asked questions which had been submitted in advance and selected by the hosts.
In general, the questions related to the candidates’ morals and ethical views. There was no opportunity for follow-up questions from the audience or for the candidates to question each other. This did mean that the majority were passive observers.
Topics discussed ranged from ethics in public office and transgender policy in schools, to social care and the persecution of religious groups. They’re all important, and I’m sure of concern to many of those present. However, they didn’t address the more bread-and-butter concerns of Gravesham residents.
Any level of scrutiny is welcome, but several people I spoke to afterwards said that they were dissatisfied with the format.
The Candidates
Lauren Sullivan: The Labour Party.
Research scientist and teacher, Gravesham Borough councillor and Kent County councillor. Lives in Northfleet.
Matthew Fraser-Moat: Reform UK
Accountant. Lives in Gravesend.
Ukonu Obasi: Liberal Democrats
Lecturer in Healthcare Management. Lives in Gravesend.
Rebecca Drake-Hopkins: The Green Party
Freelance scientific writer and technical communications specialist. Lives in Gravesend.
Adam Holloway: The Conservative Party
Former Soldier, TV Correspondent, Member of Parliament for Gravesham since 2005. Lives in Meopham.
After the Q&A, the candidates chatted with their potential consituents.
The General Election will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024.
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