Mulbarton St Mary’s church in Norfolk recently held a General Election hustings event on June 24 in the South Norfolk constituency. The event was organized by the Church of England parish and Reverend Adrian Miller, with the aim of providing the public with an opportunity to hear from the seven electoral candidates for South Norfolk. Six of the candidates confirmed their attendance, with the Conservative Party being the only one without representation, prompting Baron John Fuller to step in as their representative at the event. Members of the public were encouraged to submit questions for the candidates online or in person, with the priority for questioning being determined through an online ballot. A dedicated website was set up to streamline the process of submitting questions and accessing information about the hustings.
The South Norfolk constituency has undergone changes due to boundary alterations, incorporating areas such as Wymondham and losing parts of the rural Waveney Valley. According to a poll conducted by Survation in June, the current standings in the constituency are as follows: Labour 33.8%, Conservatives 27.9%, Reform 17.5%, Lib Dem 7.8%, Green 11.8%, and other parties at 1.3%. The hustings event at Mulbarton aimed to provide voters with a platform to engage with the candidates, hear their perspectives briefly, and ask questions that are important to them. The event was open to the public and was also live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
Dr. Trevor Hutley, Vice-Chairman of the Mulbarton PCC, expressed the importance of community engagement in the electoral process by organizing events like the hustings. The church’s initiative to host the hustings reflects a growing trend among churches in Norfolk to provide a forum for political dialogue and voter education. With concerns such as Brexit, climate change, healthcare, and education at the forefront of public discourse, events like the Mulbarton hustings play a crucial role in connecting candidates with voters and promoting informed decision-making. The hustings event served as an opportunity for the candidates to address pressing issues, share their platforms, and engage in meaningful dialogue with the electorate.
