Residents in Lochee demanded a candidate who will fight for the local area at the West End hustings last night.
Thomson Park, home of Lochee United, hosted the event, where four candidates fielded questions from the audience.
Jim Malone of Labour, Stuart Waiton of the Brexit Party, Daniel Coleman of the Liberal Democrats and Quinta Arrey of the Christian Peoples Alliance attended.
SNP Chris Law and Conservative Tess White were also invited, but did not make it.
Mr Law sent written answers to questions that had already been sent but Jim Hutchison, who was chairing the debate, chose not to read them out.
“I am not here to be his mouth piece,” he said.
Mr Hutchison did offer any SNP supporters in the audience to read Mr Law’s answers if they wanted to, but nobody did.
Mr Law’s absence was a source of frustration for several members of the audience, with one saying he had tried to contact his then MP about drug issues in the area, but said Mr Law’s office staff were dismissive.
“You have more chance of seeing Shergar than him on Lochee High Street,” the man said.
Topics discussed on the night included drugs, crime and austerity.
The most passion from the audience came on the subject of rejuvenating Lochee High Street and the area generally.
Mr Malone said he would fight for local people to claw back the impact years of austerity has had on the area.
He said: “There is no doubt Lochee is unique in Dundee.
“Lochee’s deprivation is down to politicians not paying attention.
“People here take great pride in their housing and their community, but they’ve been let down.”
The candidates were asked what they would do to tackle the area’s drug issues.
Ms Arrey said it was important to get to the root cause of someone’s addiction in helping them to beat it.
“It is not a case of one shoe fits all. We have to work with people to see what they need.”
Mr Waiton brought most discussions on to the subject of immigration when it was his turn to talk.
He said he was pro-immigration, but that current policies need to be examined.
He said: “It’s not helpful whenever someone tries to have a discussion about immigration and the racist card is thrown at them.
“We need to grow the economy. Immigration is pushing wages down.”
Mr Waiton also warned against following the advice of people like Greta Thunberg.
“The green agenda means no flying, no jobs, no growth,” he added.
Mr Coleman was quick to apologise for his party’s coalition with the Conservatives when asked if he would.
He said: “I think our record in the coalition was terrible.
“I think going into government was the right thing. We had an opportunity to change the face of Britain, but we wasted it.
“I won’t always follow the party line if it doesn’t work for Dundee West or Lochee; I will vote against it.”
