For the first time in more than a decade, candidates of all three major political parties gathered in Petersfield to answer questions from parishioners from Petersfield Area Churches Together (PACT). The meeting was organised to give parishioners a chance to question their general election candidates as the country prepares to go to the polls next Thursday. A large audience turned out for the meeting, which was held in St Peter's Church on Tuesday. Marjory Broughton (Labour), Ruth Bright (Lib Dem), Michael Mates (Conservative) and Samuel David (UKIP) were each given 15 minutes to answer questions on topics ranging from poverty to single-sex marriages. Marjory Broughton was first to speak, and gave her views on how her party would help eradicate poverty. She said: "G8 presidency could be the turning point for world poverty if Labour returns to power. "Labour would lead by example, and with regards to the new enlarged EU, Britain needs to try and gain a good consensus of agreement. "To help alleviate poverty we should think about creating vast food banks to be distributed free to people in need." And on global warming, Mrs Broughton provided a personal example of her homeland, Scotland. "In the Scottish highlands we are having to use high factor sun cream due to a hole in the ozone," she said. "Britain is committed to reductions in carbon emissions. We are all used to flying but I would much rather the aviation industry looked at the way they fuel their aircraft." Ruth Bright added her views on the issue of global warming, and in particular the impact of air travel. "Of course we all want to use air travel. The Lib Dems want to attack the making of individual journeys rather than the passengers themselves. She added that people needed incentives to help improve the environment. "We can't go for punitive controls, we have to go for a carrot system," she said. Mrs Bright pinpointed the need for greater representation in Parliament, and fielded questions about parenting. She said: "Our institutions must be represented. If there were no young MPs, Parliament would be a much poorer place." She added that her husband had managed to do 60 per cent of the parenting of the couple's children while she concentrated on her career. "The things I have learned as a mother have really helped me. Parliament needs mums as much as it needs dads," she said. Michael Mates, for the Conservatives, offered his opinion on single-sex marriages. He said: "We must try a system that doesn't discriminate against those who want a different lifestyle or those who seek a traditional family life. "If people of the same sex want to live together, that is OK with me. I have plenty of homosexual friends, and anyone who wants to be in a gay relationship should be allowed to. "But I don't know that we want to call it marriage. Maybe it is the term marriage that is out of date." Mr Mates was also questioned on terrorism and the need for a nuclear deterrent. "Since we won the Cold War, in many ways the world has become a more dangerous place," he responded. "For the moment we need to be able to show anyone who has a thought of using nuclear weapons that it is unacceptable. I think it is right we have a deterrent." The last candidate to take the microphone was UKIP representative, Samuel David, who was asked about Britain's dedication to Fair Trade. He said: "Tariff barriers and overseas aid used to be in the control of this nation, but now it is a competence of the European Union. "At present, any UK government freedom of activity on taking action is subject to qualified majority voting along with all the other members. "We should be allowed to regain control in Westminster so we can make the necessary decisions. "We want to see that subsidies to the Common Agricultural Policy are reduced and the protectionism that typifies the EU policy on tariff barriers are removed." And with the topic turning to poverty, Mr David added: "The UK can have a part to play by retaining control of overseas aid to Westminster. Assuming we can do that we would certainly support any help. "One problem is that a lot of the money handed over in aid doesn't go to the people it is supposed to. It often goes to corrupt regimes and ends up in Swiss bank accounts."
