28th April 2010

WEYMOUTH: Business leaders question prospective MPs

by Paul Crompton

BUSINESSMEN, the general public and students met at Weymouth’s College to grill the perspective parliamentary candidates for the borough.

A total of ten questions were fired at the candidates during a two-hour hustings about business issues in the town at the special ‘Question Time’ style debate.

The five South Dorset candidates on the platform were: Jim Knight (Labour,) Richard Drax (Conservative,) Ros Kayes (Liberal Democrat,) Mike Hobson (UK Independence Party) and Brian Heatley (Green Party).

Only Andy Kirkwood from the Go MAD and Vote For Yourself party didn’t turn up to explain his party’s line on local and national business issues to the 100 gathered people.

The business-orientated hustings were organised by Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism.

The independent chairman was Sue Moore, principal of Weymouth College. A similar debate was held at Budmouth College in May 2005.

Chamber president Councillor Nigel Reed, who introduced proceedings from the stage of the college theatre, said this type of event was an important part of the democratic process for businesses, as their success was crucial to the local economy.

He said: “I think the most interesting thing was that we got two hours of questions to the candidates, and I think most of the audience thought so too.

“But we would have liked to have been able to ask secondary questions to the candidates’ answers.”

The candidates did, however, stay after the meeting to answer people’s questions in a little more depth.