Five of the six parliamentary candidates were invited to take questions at Moordown Baptist Church on Wednesday evening
The only official Bournemouth East hustings descended into chaos after the Independent candidate excluded from the event stood up and heckled the chairman.
The hustings, held at Moordown Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, was chaired by member of the church John Rosser and included all the five national party candidates, however Independent David Hugh Ross stood up at the end denouncing the event.
He told the chair John Rosser, “you have denied me a platform,” before shouting to the crowd “I would be no good as a potential candidate for you, if I could not stand up for myself,” receiving a round of applause.
David Ross – Independent candidate for Bournemouth East
Rosser replied arguing the event was for national party candidates only. He later clarified to Your Election 15:
“If you invited everyone you would see half a dozen weirdos. It’s fine for them to stand for parliament but if you’re going to hold an intelligent hustings I think five is difficult. Any more would be incredibly difficult. It’s a logical decision,” said the Chair.
Ross argued he had been “beaten up by the system” and called the event a “reiteration of the national debate.”
“Independents get beaten up by the system. I didn’t have any personal contact from anyone. I was blanked then and I’ve been blanked tonight.”
“We found very little about the candidates themselves and the fundamental point that four of the five have no chance of being elected and they know it. I’m actually standing with the intention of winning.”
Ross was supported by Bournemouth East constituent Trisha who said: “Anywhere in politics it’s wrong. Everyone should be represented.” Her friend Layla said “democracy isn’t all neat and tidy” and argued the Chair “should’ve spoke less” to make more time for Ross.
Conservative Tobias Ellwood who has held the seat of Bournemouth East since 2005 waded in and advised the organisers that “next time you should allow all the candidates to attend.”
Bournemouth East has six parliamentary candidates for the General Election on May 7: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative), Jon Nicholas (Liberal Democrat) David Hughes (UKIP) Peter Stokes (Labour) Alasdair Keddie (Green) and David Hugh Ross (Bournemouth Independent Alliance).
David did not heckle.He waited until the meeting finished and stood to address the audience.The chairmen of the meeting then tried to talk over him using the pa system.
If Mr.Rosser had bothered to ask he would have discovered that we are a properly regulated political group,registered with the Electoral system.We have sitting Councillor and expect to be a major force at the 2019 local elections. Mr.Tosser’s actions were bigoted,arrogant and undemocratic.
Absolutely agree, all candidates should have been allowed to speak in this event. There is a logistical issue of a situation if many independents stood for election and wanted to speak but this wasn’t the case, an extra seat could have been catered for and it would have been a good trade with the time taken by the chair. I am not sure that the shouting at the end will have aided the cause but it was a lose lose situation and that’s his call to make I guess.
The ‘shouting at the end’ was unavoidable – I was trying to get myself heard over the Chairman who talked over me!
I have complained to the editor of the Echo about their mis-reporting of the event. His reply – ” A fringe candidate’s dust up with the chairman hardly constitutes a scoop.”
Congratulations to the Bournemouth University student reporter who did get the scoop. The issue is not me, but the bias now not only shown by the Chairman but by Andy Martin of the Echo as well
David Ross is a very arrogant man,a bully who wants his own way
Sorry, but standing as an Independent really isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
Tobias Ellwood was humouring the event organizers by turning up to participate-he knew full well none of his opponents stood a snowflakes chance.
Please see below…
Tobias Ellwood has spoken in 32 debates in the last year — above average amongst MPs.
Has received answers to 6 written questions in the last year — average amongst MPs.
People have made 14 annotations (referenced him) on this MP’s speeches — above average amongst MPs
Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. “she sells seashells”) 555 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs .Apparently it’s a sign of intellectual ability.
Compare that with Bournemouth West’s MP Conor Burns below par performance and you will see you are getting value for money.
Conor Burns MP
Has spoken in 16 debates in the last year — average amongst MPs.
Has received answers to 4 written questions in the last year — average amongst MPs.
People have made 1 annotation on this MP’s speeches — average amongst MPs.
Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. “she sells seashells”) 39 times in debates — below average amongst MPs.(his intellect is below average).