Why doesn’t my Tory opponent have the guts to debate me?

As Labour’s parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, last week I challenged the current MP Stephen Metcalfe to take part in some local debates through 2014.

Although debates involving our party leaders are on the agenda at a national level my offer was flatly rejected by Mr. Metcalfe as “yah-boo” politics which would put off the general public. I completely disagree and have already had contact from a local community forum and a local media outlet willing to host debates with the hope of opening up politics to more constituents. It is my opinion that local events talking about various local and national topics would encourage more people to engage with politics at all levels and use their democratic right to vote come the general election in 2015.

Is the same happening in other seats? Is this a policy directive from Conservative head office or a local choice to avoid having to attempt to defend the indefensible?

Residents have the right to hold sitting MPs to account and to put hopeful candidates under the spotlight too. Politicians and policies are not all the same and unlike Mr. Metcalfe I am more than willing to debate these differences in the public arena as well as on the doorstep.

The Conservatives are intent on shrinking the state permanently and destroying good local public services. An ideology made clear in George Osborne’s statement yesterday and supported until now by the Lib Dems who’s faux complaints after almost four years of unwavering support is the height of hypocrisy.

DCLG cuts handed down to Essex County Council have left the Tory run authority to wield the axe and decimate youth services and close SureStart centres. Add the bedroom tax and the rise of foodbanks affecting vulnerable citizens, cuts to police numbers and the tripling of tuition fees and it may be that Mr. Metcalfe has decided he just cannot attempt to defend his Westminster voting record in the public arena.

Whatever the real reason for his reluctance, I hope there will be a change of heart . Residents deserve more than just the one or two hastily arranged and poorly advertised hustings in April 2015. If we really want to engage with people, let’s do it now. If not, why not?

Mike Le-Surf is Labour PPC for South Basildon and East Thurrock