THE five candidates for Stroud MP debated for the ninth and final time ahead of polling day at the Subscription Rooms last night.

After a moment’s silence in memory of those killed and affected in the London terror attacks, the candidates began a long night of passionate debate.

The event, chaired by estate agent Andrew Watton, was the final chance for members of the public to ask questions of all their candidates, and they firmly grasped that opportunity – more than 200 people attended and more than 80 questions were submitted.

Candidates debated progressive alliances and coalition governments, Brexit, selective schools, the NHS, the environment, fox hunting, equal rights and leadership.

On progressive alliances, Ukip’s Glen Gogerly hit a point which his fellow candidates agreed on, he said: “If you vote for a party you believe in you can do truly amazing things.”

Green candidate Sarah Lunnon said that Ukip has paved the way for parties who have a core issue at the heart of their agenda, with Ukip’s being a British exit from the EU and the Green’s leading with environmental policy.

Labour’s David Drew stated that Stroud District Council is already being governed by a progressive alliance which he says proves ‘it can be done’, he said: “We have much more in common than that which divides us, but let’s get electoral reform. Stroud can lead the way.”

Conservative Neil Carmichael stated: “If you don’t feel like you are represented you are voting for a party which is not big enough,” whereas, Lib Dem Max Wilkinson said that assuming who people will vote for in a tactical vote is patronising to the electorate.

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On Brexit Sarah Lunnon places a lot of the blame for the chaos over negotiations on the issue being boiled down to a binary choice (Remain/Leave).

She said: “After the result I felt like I was mourning the loss of my identity – I still feel bereft about that,” Sarah stated that being a member of the EU gives the UK access to a more powerful voice.

Neil Carmichael said that Brexit had ramifications on all policy areas, he said: “There will be obstacles in our way and we will have to negotiate around them.”

David Drew commented how he’ never wants to see another referendum’ after witnessing the divides it has placed in the community, stating that we must now move on, but a party must – in the next election – have a return to the EU in their manifesto.

Lib Dem Max Wilkinson said: “It’s very convenient for the two major parties [Brexit negotiations] that’s why it is not being discussed. Before June 23 Labour were the pro-EU party and now it has given up on that. I feel that if Theresa May doesn’t get at least 52 per cent of the vote then she has ultimately failed.”

On selective and grammar schools, David Drew said: “We are having a debate that we don’t need, we should be putting more money into our schools,” a response which received rousing approval from the audience.

He stated that schools have ‘gone off a cliff edge’ in the past year and that introducing social immobility at age 11 cannot be fair.

Ukip’s Glen Gogerly received the first boos of the evening for his response, he said: “One size doesn’t fit all, we believe in grammar schools.

“They can improve social mobility and allow people to move up,” he also mentioned that Ukip would bring in further vocational courses to teach practical skills to the curriculum.

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Neil Carmichael emphasised the need for a modern economy ‘which is innovative’ and which provides a good opportunity for young people.

Max Wilkinson said: “Judging a child on what they can do at age 10 is not what we should be doing. I’m pleased Neil is agreeing with us on this but his party does not,” to which Mr Carmichael said “you’d be surprised.”

On the NHS, a member of the audience called Hannah Basson, who works in the NHS, said: "Many I meet do not have the emotional or mental strength or tools to deal with a cruel system that knocks them back at every turn."

All five candidates condemned the use of Personal Independence Payment and workplace assessments and agreed the NHS needed proper joined-up funding.

Neil Carmichael did however state that more emphasis must be placed ‘on each person’s personal responsibility to look after their own personal health’.

Glen Gogerly said that six out of ten people who have their benefits taken away via these assessments are successful in their attempts to reclaim them.

Sarah Lunnon said that the NHS should not be profit driven, which is what she sees happens when elements are privatised, and received a welcoming roar from the crowd when she demanded an end to NHS privatisation.

She said: “Admissions are up 3.6 per cent but funding is only up 0.7 per cent – how can we not afford it?”

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On the environment and USA president Donal Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, Neil Carmichael said: “President Trump has made a big mistake, the US economy will find itself not in the best place.

“98 per cent of solar panels in the UK have been built since 2010 and we need to work together to protect the environment.”

Sarah Lunnon said: “Trump hasn’t helped us but we can make an example, hand-in-hand with Europe. We need to be carbon neutral by 2050, with 50 per cent cuts each decade.

Perhaps one of the loudest cheers of the night was in response to David Drew’s statement, he said: “We have to withdraw an invitation to Trump from this country. We seem to be in America’s pocket.

“We need to deal with them as a friend and tell them they are wrong.”

Max Wilkinson said: “The people in charge of this country should condemn him, it seems that the Conservatives want a bright Brexit under a smoggy sky.”

He said the Lib Dems would reverse cuts to renewable energy and introduce a diesel car scrappage scheme.

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On national security and police cuts David Drew said: “I hope when Theresa May says enough is enough she is talking about the police cuts.

“I feel that involvement abroad has helped radicalise people. We need to learn what can happen if we blunder into foreign escapades.

“I also have to say, never do policy evolution during a general election, it doesn’t work.”

Sarah Lunnon said: “It is about time for difficult and embarrassing questions with Saudi Arabia, we need to cut off the head of the snake,” a ‘faux pas’ she quickly apologised for.