The Vision Group for Sidmouth will be hosting the Sidmouth General Election Hustings 2024, a chance for all voters in the Sid Valley to put questions to the candidates.

The event is free and does not require registration or a ticket to attend. It will be held at All Saints’ Church on All Saints Road, EX10 8ES on Wednesday, June 19, starting at 7pm.

The VGS has been organising General Election hustings for the best part of two decades, providing an opportunity for voters to find out candidates' views on issues they care about and the policies of their parties, as well as their ability to communicate clearly.

All registered voters in the Sid Valley are welcome to attend and to provide questions beforehand. 

The Conservative candidate for the Honiton & Sidmouth constituency, Simon Jupp, Liberal Democrat Richard Foord, Independent Vanessa Coxon and Reform Party candidate Paul Quickenden have confirmed attendance. The other candidates representing Labour, the Green Party and the Party of Women have all been invited to attend.

VGS chair Ian Gregory said: “I am looking forward to chairing the event and presenting questions raised by the public to the candidates. The quality of questions at each hustings event has always been excellent.

“The VGS is grateful to All Saints Church for providing a more-than suitable venue for what should be a well-attended event.”

All Saints Church can accommodate approximately 250 people.

How will the hustings be conducted?

6.30pm: Hall opens: submission of questions using forms provided

7.00: Introduction from the Chair, who will introduce each candidate

7.05: Each Candidate will have five minutes to introduce themselves and their campaign

7.30: Chair will select representative questions from those submitted online or on the door.

8.20: Each Candidate will have two minutes to sum up

8.30: The meeting will close.

How can questions be submitted?

Only questions submitted beforehand can be considered.

Online: Submitted through the contact form on the VGS website: www.visionforsidmouth.org/contact/

At the door: Forms will be provided with a cut-off time of 6.45pm. Attendees are asked to arrive early in order to submit questions at the door.