Valley debates a victory for democracy

The first in a series of debates between Conservative Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker and parliamentary candidates Josh Fenton-Glynn and Alisdair McGregor at Brighouse High School with chairman Liz Green.

Three of the debates were between Conservative MP Craig Whittaker, Labour candidate Josh Fenton-Glynn and Liberal Democrat candidate Alisdair McGregor, with Green candidate Jenny Shepherd taking part in the other.

Mr McGregor said: “It was great that the public had the opportunity to hear how different the candidates’ policies and principles were.”

Mr Fenton-Glynn said: “I thought the debates went really well, but I’m astounded that Craig Whittaker is still claiming there is no threat to our A&E and is prepared to say that anyone who does that as scaremongering.”

Ms Shepherd said: “Craig was saying that people who said an A&E closure was on the card were scaremongering and irresponsible.

“When I gave my speech I said I was one of those ‘scaremongering’, ‘irresponsible’ people - but the evidence is there in black and white.”

In a statement Mr Whittaker criticised Mr Fenton-Glynn and accused him of misleading the public over proposals to downgrade our A&E and accused him of not engaging directly with health chiefs.