St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston is offering its community the opportunity to meet and question the General Election candidates in the Great Yarmouth constituency. The church will be hosting a question-time-style General Election Hustings on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 pm. So far, Catherine Blaiklock of the English Democrats, James Clark of the Conservative party, Keir Cozens of the Labour Party, and Trevor Rawson of the Green Party have confirmed their attendance. Other candidates have also received invitations, with one candidate unable to attend but sending a representative. The Vicar of the church, Rev Matthew Price, will be chairing the event and is encouraging the community to engage with the candidates and ask questions, emphasizing the importance of Christians being active in the election process.
To attend the hustings, individuals are asked to collect a free ticket from the church office, with any surplus tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door on the evening of the event. Doors will open at 7 pm, with questions to be submitted in advance via a special email address set up for this purpose. Rev Price hopes that local residents will take the opportunity to ask questions and consider submitting their own for the candidates to address. He is looking forward to chairing the event and facilitating an informed decision-making process for voters ahead of the election on 4th July.
Rev Price believes that it is crucial for Christians and the wider community to engage in political discourse, particularly in the current climate of increased polarization. The church hopes that the hustings event will provide a platform for local Christians to interact with the candidates, hear their policies, and make a considered decision when casting their votes. By offering this opportunity for dialogue and questioning, St Mary Magdalene Church aims to promote active participation in the democratic process and encourage individuals to prayerfully consider their role in shaping society through their vote. The event is anticipated to be a valuable opportunity for the community to engage with the election candidates and gain clarity on their positions and policies.
