In a local hustings in Bedworth, Parliamentary candidates for North Warwickshire debated issues and policy in front of residents this week. However drama unfolded due to the Labour Candidate Mike O’Brien storming out of the meeting after failing to change the Chairperson, when the audience voted to keep the Chair of the event in place.
Mr O’Brien handpicked someone from the audience to chair the event but this was voted away by the audience, then hysterically the Labour Candidate announced he was leaving if the Chair would not leave herself. The Labour candidate and former MP, who’s record would have come under intense scrutiny at the debate, then walked out in front of stunned residents. The four other candidates for North Warwickshire; Conservative Craig Tracey, the UKIP, Green and TUSC candidates, remained, taking questions from the audience and debated local and national topics.
Craig Tracey commented:
“The Labour candidate hasn’t just let himself down tonight, he let residents down who came to witness a debate to help make their minds up ahead of the election. His actions resembled a baby throwing their dummy out the pram. The Chair of the hustings was agreed upon months ago and all the other candidates were happy – even the audience voted to keep the Chair in place after Mr O’Brien tried to hand pick someon to take over. I am glad the audience did get to see a genuine debate from four candidates who wish to represent them, unfortunately for the Labour Candidate, his actions have done himself no favours with local people.”
Two Labour Bedworth Councillors remained in the audience after their candidate left.
Local resident Damon Brown who was in attendance said:
“Sadly, the hustings was marred at the very beginning by disgraceful behaviour of the Labour Candidate. He tried to bully the person chosen to chair the meeting into standing down to be replaced by another person of his choosing. He failed to get his own way because the audience voted to keep the Chair in place, he then shamefully stormed out to the bemusement of the residents in attendance.”
Since the end of the meeting the Chairperson has faced a barrage of abuse by the local Labour Agent and North Warwickshire Labour Councillors.
Current MP Dan Byles said:
“Labour tried to bully the Chairperson at the debate, now they are doing so again, ganging up on her on social media; which is outrageous. People had a right to hear from all the candidates. Mike needs to show a little less arrogance and recognise that it isn't all about him. This has shown people that Labour really are the nasty party, the pressure must be getting to them ahead of the election, unfortunately it looks like they will be using every trick in the book to try to win.”