Watford hopefuls answer your questions at hustings

The forum at Beechen Grove Baptist Church last night (Monday, November 25) was attended by Conservative candidate Dean Russell, Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski and Liberal Democrat candidate Ian Stotesbury.

Social Democratic Party candidate Michael McGetrick was unable to attend the hustings.

During the night, the candidates were quizzed on several issues including pollution and Brexit.

Below is a summary of questions asked on the night and a summary of what the candidates said in response.

Question: What is the most important issue of this election - Brexit or something else?

Dean Russell response: Mr Russell said he has worked with every type of business, and what he sees around the world is a real enthusiasm about entrepreneurs and opportunity.

Dean Russel (photo credit Simon Jacobs)

He added: "We used to be a nation of shopkeepers. Now we could be a nation of entrepreneurs."

He also said it is important to focus on the things that "really matter". He said it is important to deliver Brexit and move forward and look at what this country can be.

Ian Stotesbury response: "Brexit affects our ability to invest in the NHS and schools.

"The biggest issue worldwide is climate change. I'm really sorry that we don't have a Green Party candidate here.

"We have a ticking timebomb. The climate emergency is real.

"Brexit is the opportunity cost that gets in the way of everything."

Chris Ostrowski response: “The last 10 years have seen such a dereliction in public services in the public realm that another 10 years could cripple us.

"I want to make sure that we could be the party that gave the decision back to you.

"An agreed deal, signed off by you. I would back Remain in all circumstances. Remaining in the EU is the best deal we could ever have."

Question: Would you introduce legislation against all plastic pollution? How will you tackle air pollution from vehicles?

Dean Russell response: “I want to get people to work together to say how do we make Watford a cleaner, greener town.

"A lot of businesses now realise their customers want them to be more purpose driven. Care more for the environment."

Ian Stotesbury response: "We will provide massive investment in public services. We want to see all cars from 2030 sold as electric. The technology is available for this.

Ian Stotesbury (photo credit Simon Jacobs)

"The tree has evolved for billions of years.

"We want to plant 60 million trees every year for five years.

Chris Ostrowski response: “Anyone who has been in and around Watford will have notice the huge congestion.

"I walk to Watford Junction every morning. There is one bit where I am convinced I am breathing in carbon monoxide every day.

"We need to make sure air pollution from vehicles is reduced. The technology is certainly there. We want to make sure that this is planned and it happens.

"In terms of plastic, we have seen enormous strides. We want to make sure this keeps on going."

Question - What is your spiritual and moral underpinning personally and politically?

Ian Stotesbury response: “I haven't really ever hung out in the church community and the people who I have got to meet changed my view on church.

"For me it is a wider thing about community. I believe in God. But I am not prepared to define it."

A large number of people turned up for the hustings (Simon Jacobs)

“Politically I'm a Liberal. I think people should be free to live their own lives and be free to be themselves.

"As Watford MP, I will always protect free speech and always fight for those fundamental liberal values."

Chris Ostrowski response: "I'm a practising and professing Christian.

"I didn't have a particularly religious upbringing but my wife did.

Chris Ostrowski (photo credit Simon Jacobs)

"Politically my faith does direct me a great deal. Christian Socialism is a rich tradition."

Dean Russell response: “"I've worked all over the world with every type of person.

"What I've felt throughout the whole of that is that we talk about diversity but there's a real commonality.

"We all want to have a community that we can feel part of.

"We need to make sure we are looking at people and not putting policy and agendas in the way of bringing us together."

On Climate Change

Dean Russell: "For me, climate change is about how we treat our world.

"There is huge opportunity for technology, for entrepreneurs and for innovation.

"I see this first had through the work I do with start ups and entrepreneurs,

"If we do this together, we will all benefit."

Ian Stotesbury: "I'm an engineer, I work in the space industry.

"There is no doubt about it. It is real (climate change). There's no question if it is real or not. 

"Will it be key to how I vote? Yes. Governments come and go, and we have to take action now."

Chris Ostrowski: "In terms of assisting poor countries, the aid budget is very important.

"I am proud of Labour's record on this.

"It isn't right to use up resources of the earth so quickly.

"We are hitting our targets on green house emissions."

Question on honesty and intergity and manifestos

Chris Ostrowski response: "I think personal connection is one of the best things to help restore honesty and integrity. These sorts of debates, engaging with community, help us get to know each other."

Dean Russell response: "Politicians need to be in the community they serve. I have been coming to Watford for 20 years.

"I understand what the people of Watford are about. I want to be part of the community, not sat in an ivory tower."

Ian Stotesbury response: "I am standing on the most prudent, costed manifesto of any party. The IMF has been particularly damning about the other parties' manifestos."

Questions on housing, renting and homelessness

Dean Russell response: "One of the things we are definitely going to be bringing in as a Government is looking at that people cannot be kicked out of their tenancy.

"We need to look at those debates and how you can support those people.

"I will work with the council and teams to tackle homelessness.

"There are a whole range of issues and I want to make sure we bring people together."

Ian Stotesbury response: “I am a councillor now. I have been involved on the front line with developers looking to build far more than the infrastructure can manage.

"The Lib Dems know that our country needs social investment. In our manifesto we've costed tax rises and borrowing.

"Ten per cent of our construction workers are from the EU.

"We also want to see a change to the way rent works in this country. The reason so many people are in rent is that they struggle to get together a deposit.

"My generation are struggling to get on the ladder. A combination of government intervention and construction will get us out of this."

Chris Ostrowski response: “Renting is becoming popular now - that is an extraordinary statement. People rent because they cannot afford a home. Lib Dems have come up with some policies but key thing is building homes.

“This last year, 6000 council homes built in this country. That is a disgrace.

"When I had my children I didn't think I was going to own a house.

"That feeling of lying in bed feeling you are going to be evicted is absolutely terrifying.

"People who were born in the 1980s and 90s know about this."

Question: How will you fund adequate social care for elderly people?

Ian Stotesbury response: "The NHS is something we should be proud about, we should also be realistic about its challenges.

"The Lib Dems are not going to make wide-sweeping promises that are uncosted.

"We believe we deserve the best social care system in the world.

"We want to take funding of the NHS out of this political pendulum of more, less, more less."

Dean Russell response: "Mental health. That's something I'm really passionate about. I've been championing mental health provision for a long time.

"We can put far more robust systems and innovations into tackling this.

"I want to bring people on board and inspire them to be mental health first aiders.

"We have pledged to put £1 billion into social care. The most important thing for me is how we should spend it and working with the other parties on this."

Chris Ostrowski response: “Labour will put a cap on the lifetime funds you have to contribute to your own care.

“This is something that costs money. We are an ageing population.

“There will be small income tax increases and an increase in corporation tax so that means that you yourself will not have to pay.”

Question: What do you think of Heathrow's proposed third runway? 

Ian Stotesbury response: "Heathrow's expansion is a long-standing debate. The Lib Dems say that the Heathrow expansion should not happen.

“We have already spoken about climate change. We know from data that flights are one of biggest impacts on the environment."

Chris Ostrowski response: "We do need and want to see technology improve. The point when fuel is pumped into the air most is when planes take off.

"We need to make sure we become less reliant on jet fuel as well as petrol and diesel from cars.

"This is an opportunity for us to collaborate on research to make sure air travel isn't as damaging as it currently is.

"I would not vote for the third runway as things stand."

Dean Russell response: "I'm relatively neutral. I'd like to see the evidence. My view is the world has become increasingly smaller because of technology. we shouldn't have to travel so much (e.g. we have Face Time.

"The nature of why we travel is shifting and the purpose of it. When we look at pollution. We need to have a holistic view of do we need to go there, do we need to travel?

"The increasing risks and costs of travel will go back to the point where only the rich can travel. When I was younger, I remember going abroad was a big deal. So I think we need to be careful about top-down views of taxation."

Questions from the audience: Labour activist Mike Jackson said to Ian Stotesbury: “The Lib Dems are being criticised all around the country for dodgy bar charts that show them in second place when they are in third place.”

He said to Dean Russell: “You have mentioned four times that you have worked in the Phillippines but not that you stood twice as a Luton candidate and a Luton Town football shirt.”

Dean Russell response: "The amount of grief i get from standing in Luton is quite comic. I'm proud I stood in Luton, I gave a good fight to Labour there, but I never expected to win there."

Chris Ostrowski response: "We have to be realistic about what's possible (with regards projected outcomes). The Lib Dems would still finish third (even if there is a surge of support for them). That is a fact."

Photo credit Simon Jacobs

Audience question: Why are you best to lead the country?

Chris Ostrowski response: "The agenda Labour has put forward is ambitious and I'm proud of that. There's no harm is saying things don't have to be the way that they are. We have to be able to see that things are possible to see value of democracy."

Ian Stotesbury response: "We haven't overpromised, and we will be able to deliver and that is fundamental.

"That is not true of the other two major parties. Jo is earnest and is frank with her views and it is important. I didn't give up in 2017 and I want to serve Watford."

Dean Russell response: "We need to look at what democracy has voted on.

"We've had 3 years of confusion and delay.

"I think Boris Johnson is the right guy. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. But he's gone out there and let's deliver what people have voted for.”