Bury North candidates face off at election hustings event

The debate, hosted by Churches Together at St Andrew’s Church, was attended by Labour candidate James Frith and Conservative candidate David Nuttall who again are both standing after doing so in 2015.

The constituency is a marginal one after the pair were separated by just 378 votes two years ago, with Mr Nuttall retaining the seat that he has held since 2010.

Both candidates were asked questions by members of the audience on issues such as Brexit, social care, security and the NHS.

Mr Frith, who was selected ahead of Karen Danczuk as Labour’s candidate, said that the choice for people to make is a “very stark one” and said that it was now time for a change in Bury North.

He said: “I respect the man sitting next to me but I do not think that he deserves a third term.

“We have had seven years of bad luck here and I am looking forward to the challenge of demonstrating my own politics here if elected.”

Mr Nuttall, who campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union, spoke about getting the right deal in Brexit negotiations under a Tory government or having to pay for it further down the line.

He said: “The choice people need to make is to stick with a strong, stable, single party government in the Conservatives or a Jeremy Corbyn-led coalition.

“If Labour win the election, there would be a chaotic situation in handling Brexit.”

Mr Frith said that his main focus would be to concentrate on what he called a “practical Brexit” when looking to get the best deal for everyone.

“I voted to remain but I accept that the country has spoken democratically.

“The argument now for me is looking at a practical way to handle Brexit which helps social care and the NHS.

“Brexit poses a real threat and risks so I want one that works for everyone in Bury North.”

When the candidates were asked how they would intend to improve security in light of the Manchester Arena bombings last week, both were clear in their message.

Mr Frith called targeting younger people at a pop concert a “new low of terror” and said that everyone now has a responsibility to the victims to respond.

“We will do this through better policing closer to home in our towns.

“Yes we need to look at the larger scale ways of security such as better intelligence etc but we have also got to understand how we can address this threat on a community basis.”

Mr Nuttall said that “it is very important that we give our security services the tools in the modern age to counter terrorist movements” and praised the recruitment of more officers.

When quizzed about the closure of the walk-in centres, Mr Frith was cheered when he said that he has made them his number one priority.

“3000 patients present to this borough’s walk-in centres each month but now only one centre is available for them," he said.

“Years of austerity has led to this and the humanity and fairness of many things has all being restricted because of it.

“Again I say, I want a better voice for Bury North in Parliament than what we have currently.”

Mr Nuttall highlighted that the country is spending more and more on the NHS each year and that the rumours that it is dead in the water under the Tories are just not true.

"The reality is that the NHS is safer in our hands," he said.

Richard Baum of the Liberal Democrats - the third candidate nominated for Bury North - had earlier said that he would be taking no part in the election as his party have “no chance of winning the seat.”