“WHERE is your vision for this great town?” were the words shouted by a man who was escorted out of a recent hustings event.

The heated words were directed at perspective parliamentary political candidates as they tackled questions from the public.

The event held at St Mary’s Church, in Eastrop, was an opportunity for candidates from all political parties to put across their views on a number of points including climate change, health and social care and education.

However, one member of the audience believed Maria Miller, Kerena Marchant, Jonathan Jenkin, Alan Stone and Sashi Mylvaganam where not being clear of what their vision for Basingstoke was.

Despite the outburst candidates answered a number of questions including whether drugs such as cannabis should be legalised? A question which split opinions.

Liberal Democrat candidate Mr Mylvaganam said: “We do believe that we should make cannabis legal because it will help put a stop to knife crime.

“We will invest the money made from this back into mental health support for people.”

Another key issue that was raised was the subject of climate change and what parliament needs to do to help reduce the countries carbon emissions.

Independent candidate, Mr Stone, said specifically for Basingstoke that more areas should be pedestrianised.

Whereas Labour candidate, Ms Marchant added: “We have to change everything that we do to fight the climate crisis.

“The Labour party is going to have a stringent green plan, whereby we introduce low cost loans for people to purchase electric cars and bring in more charging points across Basingstoke.”

Green party candidate, Mr Jenkin, echoed theses views but said we need to change the way we live first, rather than it being a quick fix.

He said: “We have to change the way that we live our lives. If we have a better way of life then fundamentally we have the ability to help change.”

On the issue of Brexit, Conservative candidate, Maria Miller said that “British democracy relies on trust” and despite voting to remain herself she believes the Tories can deliver on a deal.

She said: “We need a government with a clear majority which can deliver Brexit.”

When it came to debating the issue of investing in education, Ms Marchant said she has spoken to people who are considering leaving Basingstoke because they are worried about their Children’s education.

However, Mr Stone argued that the infrastructure needed to be in place first.

He said: “Even though we have more houses coming, we have not invested in the infrastructure around them.

“There is a real issue around keeping teachers, who quite frankly have a thankless job. We should just let teachers teach.”

The evening was introduced and closed by church administrator Trevor Woodgate who said the person who gets elected not only has to do the will of the people but serve under gods eye.