WITH two weeks to go until the general election, Bournemouth candidates gathered to discuss housing and the cost-of-living crisis at a hustings event in Boscombe.
Bournemouth East candidates Tobias Ellwood (Conservative), Tom Hayes (Labour) and Joe Salmon (Green) were joined by Bournemouth West Liberal Democrats candidate Jeff Hanna at the Friend’s Meeting House.
Other candidates in Bournemouth East are Kieron Wilson (independent), Martin Houlden (Reform UK) and Miles Penn (SDP).
Mr Wilson was in attendance and had asked to be a part of the panel, as BCP Council portfolio holder for housing.
However, Shelter decided to restrict the number of candidates represented to four due to time pressures and followed electoral commission guidance to select candidates from parties represented in the last government.
The candidates were met with questions on a wide range of topics relating to housing, at the event organised by charity Shelter and Citizens Advice.
Tobias Ellwood (Image: Newsquest)
Previous MP, Mr Ellwood, said how BCP Council needs to develop its own housing and economic plans, particularly hospitality to ‘advance our local economy’.
He pointed at the area around Bournemouth Airport as a potential location for ‘something big, something bold, something imaginative’.
There is also a need to build more supported housing, to reduce pressure on the social housing waiting lists, Mr Ellwood said.
Mr Hayes stressed the need to build more social housing, while keeping the social housing that is already built, reducing pressure on the rental market.
Tom Hayes (Image: Newsquest)
The Labour representative said he would discuss what housing was needed and where to build it with those who have experience of homelessness and being on housing waiting lists.
To help tackle the cost-of-living crisis, Mr Hayes said lowering energy bills through the building of renewable energy provision and creating GB Energy.
Both Mr Hayes and Mr Salmon agreed no fault evictions should be ended, with the Green Party candidate saying 150,000 new social homes need to be built every year.
Joe Salmon (Image: Newsquest)
This, he said, would be paid for by a wealth tax and he criticised the Conservative and Labour parties, saying this tax would not be brought in under them as their donors and members are the ones who would be impacted.
Mr Salmon told the audience ‘we know what to do’ but that ‘we just need to get on and do it’.
The Liberal Democrat’s Jeff Hanna said his party would lobby the new government to ensure that social housing targets are hit, along with the creation of a genuine living wage.
Jeff Hanna (Image: Newsquest)
He proposed a ‘carrot and stick’ system for landlords, with higher tax rates for owners with empty premises, but underwritten loans to convert and build housing.
Mr Hanna added landlord profits need to be regulated, through a system of fair rents.
The general election will take place on July 4.
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