Tickets will be available from noon on Friday 21 June – book yours fast!

Hastings Hustings on Thursday 27 June

Hastings Online Times and Hastings Independent Press have joined forces to present a town-centre hustings at the White Rock Theatre on Thursday 27 June. Erica Smith shares the news.

After it became apparent that there was no plan for a town centre hustings, HOT and HIP agreed to work together to make sure that the electorate have an opportunity to see and question our parliamentary candidates. It promises to be a lively debate with all eight candidates in attendance.

The venue is the Basement Studio on the lower ground floor of White Rock Theatre, Hastings. Doors will be open at 6.30pm for the debate to commence promptly at 7pm.

Tickets are free but need to be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Whilst attendance is free, donations are encouraged to help us meet the expenses of the evening.

Making the most of the opportunity

Each candidate will give a short address, then respond to questions covering a range of electoral issues. There is a facility on the Eventbrite application form for anyone to send in a question. With eight candidates on the stage, even if each one has 60 seconds to respond to a question, the time will fly by. Questions will be pre-selected by the HOT and HIP team to ensure as many topical points are covered as possible.

Everything in moderation

Two non-affiliated moderators will share facilitating the debate. We are delighted that Lorna Hamilton-Brown MBE – long-term resident and community activist –has agreed to co-chair the event with Father Tom Crowley – the Rector at Christ Church in London Road, St Leonards since 2021.

Both HOT and HIP request that members of the audience make the role of our co-chairs as easy as possible by listening to the debate rather than making the opinions of the candidates inaudible!

We believe that this is a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the views and character of the respective candidates. We expect the debate to be conducted in a positive and respectful spirit, both between candidates and in the audience, that shows we are all capable of airing differences democratically and peacefully.

The candidates

• Phil Colley – Workers Party of Britain
• Paul Crosland – Independent
• Nicholas Davies – Communist Party of Britain
• Helena Dollimore – Labour
• Lucian Fernando – Reform UK
• Guy Harris – Liberal Democrat
• Sally-Ann Hart – Conservative
• Becca Horn – Green

Get your ticket ASAP
Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday 21 June via Eventbrite. A reminder that whilst attendance is free, donations are heartily encouraged in order to meet the expenses of the evening.

Also in: Elections