The heat was up as Uxbridge and South Ruislip general election candidates set out what they stand for at a pre-election hustings.
About fifty people were in the audience on Brunel’s campus for the face-off last Friday night ahead of next week’s crunch vote.
Brunel politics professor Justin Fisher (pictured) chaired the debate as hopefuls from the Labour Party, Green Party, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, and Reform UK made their pitch.
Local, national and world issues were all in the mix as talk touched on Hillingdon Hospital, HS2, the expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), electoral reform and Palestine.
Some lively exchanges emerged as Labour’s Danny Beales, the Green Party’s Sarah Green, Ian Rex-Hawkes from the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative’s Steve Tuckwell and Tim Wheeler of Reform UK took their turns. Steve Tuckwell won the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat last year in a by-election following the resignation of former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Positioning himself as a voice for ordinary people, Reform candidate Tim Wheeler grabbed attention when he criticised Sadiq Khan over ULEZ, calling the London Mayor 'an abhorrent little dictator'.
Labour’s Danny Beales countered, saying the mayor was elected democratically by Londoners and personal attacks were unacceptable.
Lib Dem Ian Rex-Hawkes stressed the importance of a fair political system that represents everyone. The Green’s Sarah Green highlighted her environmentalism and campaigning for clean water, women’s rights, and recently Palestine. She called for immediate action on various pressing issues, advocating for a ceasefire and ethical governance. The Tories’ Steve Tuckwell touted his track record of practical action and his experience in business and public service. And Labour’s Danny Beales mentioned his experience in politics and the NHS.
The region’s second biggest employer, Brunel University London has been in the borough since it was founded in 1966. And for the past 24 years, the local constituency has been Tory-led.
The hustings was led by Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce and backed by Brunel as hosts.
Eight candidates altogether will run for Uxbridge and South Ruislip – Danny Beales (Lab); Geoff Courtenay (UKIP); Steve Gardner (Social Democratic Party); Sarah Green (Green); Gary Harbord (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition); Ian Rex-Hawkes (Lib); Steve Tuckwell (Conservative and Unionist Party) and Tim Wheeler (Reform UK). Find out more here.
As the election approaches, voters will weigh candidates’ stances and decide who fits best for what they want for the future of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Catch Professor Justin Fisher unpacking the result on GMTV, the morning after the count on Friday July 5