The Westminster expenses scandal and looming cuts to frontline services put the five parties contesting the Glenrothes parliamentary seat on the spot at The Courier’s final hustings.
Around 100 people packed into a meeting room at Rothes Halls to scrutinise those hoping to become the constituency’s next MP.
They were Labour’s Lindsay Roy, who beat fierce SNP competition to take the seat in 2007 after a by-election, David Alexander from the SNP, Harry Wills (Liberal Democrat), Sheila Low (Conservative) and Peter Adams (UKIP), who answered in place of candidate Kris Seunarine.
Organised with the Federation of Small Businesses FSB and chaired by Courier political editor Steve Bargeton, the event was good-natured but became heated when expenses and other recent controversies were raised.
Asked by Jane Williamson what they would do to clean up politics, all the candidates agreed the Westminster Parliament must become more transparent.
The first to answer was Mr Roy, who said MPs should have integrity, honesty and openness.
He said, “I think considerable strides have been made to clean up politics already.”
However, he added that the behaviour of some MPs in the chamber was still “disgraceful.”
Mr Alexander said politicians must justify themselves to the public, Mrs Low pledged the Conservatives would look closely at political lobbying and cut ministerial cars and Mr Adams said Westminster should adopt the system used at Holyrood where all members’ expense claims go online for public scrutiny.
Mr Wills disagreed with the other candidates that MPs should not take second jobs, stating, “I think there’s a case for MPs doing other work so they don’t become centred in the Westminster world. They see the real world.”Frontline servicesThe fact that each of the main parties has conceded that millions of pounds of cuts will have to be made no matter who is in power was not lost on the public, and the candidates were asked how they would protect frontline services.
They were also quizzed on the decision by Fife Council to cut the concessionary rail travel scheme which allowed pensioners to travel to stations outwith Fife for just 50p.
Mr Alexander said, “Given the level of debt sitting in Westminster it’s going to be very difficult for the London parties to protect frontline services. We are looking at £1 trillion of debt.”
Mr Roy pledged that Labour would prioritise investment in three key areas education, the NHS and the police through a pay freeze of the highest-paid in the public sector, a review of services and other efficiency savings.
Mr Wills made it clear that cuts would be “savage” but that the lowest paid would be helped, while Mrs Low said it would be naive to think frontline services could be totally protected.
The evening was rounded up with a question from Janet Torley from the FSB, who referred to reports that Labour and the Lib Dems had encouraged people to vote tactically to stop David Cameron getting into power.
She said, “I would like to ask candidates who they would recommend we vote tactically in Glenrothes.”
Both Mr Roy and Mrs Low urged people to vote with their conscience and for what they believed in, while Mr Wills said, “The SNP vote is plummeting and Labour is flatlining so if you want a non-radical alternative, vote for me.”
Mr Alexander said, “This election is between the SNP and the other parties because we have something Westminster wants-all the oil in the North Sea.”
Mr Adams said, “We often hear about a two-horse race we have the European horse and the UKIP horse free from the European Union and free to take part in the world.”