December 10, 2019 4.17 pm This story is over 51 months old

Audience verdict: Who came out on top in the 2019 Lincoln general election debate?

Did the debate influence or change your mind?

The audience grilled seven Lincoln MP candidates in an emotional and tense live debate hosted by The Lincolnite and BBC Radio Lincolnshire on Monday evening.

The candidates, including Reece Wilkes of The Brexit Party who stood down following the event, faced a range of questions from some of the 100-strong audience.

Topics covered by those attending included the NHS, education, rough sleeping, climate change, voting reform, support for young people and Brexit.

The questions were put to the candidates ahead of the election on December 12. The candidates are as follows:

  • Karen Lee – Labour
  • Karl McCartney – Conservative
  • Caroline Kenyon – Liberal Democrat
  • Reece Wilkes – The Brexit Party (has since stood down)
  • Charles Shaw – Liberal Party
  • Sally Horscroft – Green Party
  • Rob Bradley – Independent

Audience reaction

Emma Townrow, 48, who is a teacher, feels that the education sector is ‘seriously crumbling’.

Fellow teacher, 30-year-old Danny, questioned the candidates about cuts to children’s services and how it’s effecting young people, particularly in relation to safeguarding issues. He said the issue is causing a lot of stress to teachers and massively affecting the lives of young children.

Some of the audience were left concerned and confused by what they heard during the debate.

Jo Prockter, 47, who is an NHS Clinician, feels mental health services and the homeless need more support. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Jo Prockter, 47, who is an NHS Clinician, feels mental health services and the homeless need more support, but she was left disappointed by some of the candidates.

Lynne Allison, 55, who is retired, said “rather than clarifying who I might vote for, it’s actually confused things further”, adding: “nobody I saw convinced me that any party intends to address quite how low brow politics has become”.

Youth worker Luke Wallace, 28, was among those to ask a question from the audience. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Youth worker Luke Wallace, 28, was pleased that the candidates would be willing to meet with him in the future to discuss issues surrounding young people.

Vanessa Thorne, 56, from Lincoln Castle asked the candidates how they plan to tackle the increasing number of homeless people on the streets of Lincoln and was pleased with the “quite positive responses”.

The full debate

Candidate reactions