Hustings ‘first’ voted a hit for democracy

Photo: Vincent Brown

Tory candidate Kashif Ali (left) and the Lib-Dem’s Elwyn Watkins at the hustings.

THE Asian community’s first hustings event was hailed a success and a step forward for democracy.

The hustings event was organised by members of the Glodwick Muslim community and hosted by Glodwick Community Centre.

According to the organisers, the three main party candidates were invited to attend, and Tory Kashif Ali and Liberal Democrat Elwyn Watkins took the hot seat while around 40 residents fired questions at them.

Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams was not present, but a party spokesman told the Chronicle this was because she never recieved an invitation to the event.

One of the organisers, Imran Shah, said: “Hustings is not usual practice and it was a very valuable opportunity to find the views that really concern the Muslim population in Oldham. The main topics were Islamaphobia and jobs.

“We were very disappointed Debbie Abrahams didn’t come, because the seat was held by Labour’s Phil Woolas and she is from the same party.”

The event lasted 40 minutes longer than the one hour it was scheduled for, and Mr Shah said the organisers were pleased with the turnout for a “last minute” event.

“It was a big step forward in terms of engaging the Asian public in the democratic process, and the way Asian populations start relating to politics in the UK,” he said.

“It was a good experience and everyone enjoyed it.”

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