1/5
I couldn’t attend the climate change hustings in #Lewes last night, but I’ve heard a report of what happened.
Get this:
The incumbent Tory, @mariacaulfield didn’t attend claiming she was ‘busy’ and sent a surrogate in the form of a local Tory councillor at the last minute.
I couldn’t attend the climate change hustings in #Lewes last night, but I’ve heard a report of what happened.
Get this:
The incumbent Tory, @mariacaulfield didn’t attend claiming she was ‘busy’ and sent a surrogate in the form of a local Tory councillor at the last minute.
2/5
All candidates each gave an opening 4-minute statement. The Tory surrogate announced that she had not had sufficient time to peruse the questions and so would be leaving after making her statement. This prompted an audience member to shout out that she might we well go now.
All candidates each gave an opening 4-minute statement. The Tory surrogate announced that she had not had sufficient time to peruse the questions and so would be leaving after making her statement. This prompted an audience member to shout out that she might we well go now.
3/5
Her statement said little if anything about what the Conservatives would do about climate change but complained that “you all hate us”.
At one point she said, “it’s on people, there’s no such thing as Government” which resulted in a shout of “Rubbish” from the audience.
Her statement said little if anything about what the Conservatives would do about climate change but complained that “you all hate us”.
At one point she said, “it’s on people, there’s no such thing as Government” which resulted in a shout of “Rubbish” from the audience.
4/5
After completing her statement she unceremoniously just got up and left the stage, while the next candidate was in the middle of giving their statement.
Unfortunately she left by the wrong exit and into a yard where the bins are stored, blocked by a wall and a locked gate.
After completing her statement she unceremoniously just got up and left the stage, while the next candidate was in the middle of giving their statement.
Unfortunately she left by the wrong exit and into a yard where the bins are stored, blocked by a wall and a locked gate.
5/5
She was thus faced with a choice - return to the auditorium and face the embarrassment of exiting for a second time and potential jeers or climb over the wall by the bins.
She chose the latter option.
To say that this was pitiful from the Tories doesn’t do it any justice.
She was thus faced with a choice - return to the auditorium and face the embarrassment of exiting for a second time and potential jeers or climb over the wall by the bins.
She chose the latter option.
To say that this was pitiful from the Tories doesn’t do it any justice.
Here's a video for the whole event. The Tory surrogate disappears with not even a by-your-leave at about 34mins, but it's not captured by the camera.
Nancy Blixen, Conservative Councillor for Wivelsfield is introduced as a stand-in for Maria Caulfied, who was "too busy" to attend.
Nancy's statement: 1/2
She begins by saying: "Thank you for not pelting me with eggs".
"I will take my leave before we get to the questions".
Audience member: "Why don't you go now?"
She begins by saying: "Thank you for not pelting me with eggs".
"I will take my leave before we get to the questions".
Audience member: "Why don't you go now?"
Nancy's statement: 2/2
"There is no such thing as Government, Government's are just people".
Audience member: "Rubbish!"
Then off she goes, [not caught by the camera].
"There is no such thing as Government, Government's are just people".
Audience member: "Rubbish!"
Then off she goes, [not caught by the camera].
Remiss of me not to point out that the video here was taken by @LewesEUnity. Apologies.
