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| Wajahat Shaukat Workers Party of Great Britain Candidate for Southampton Test at the 2024 General Election Photo: used with permission Wajahat Shaukat |
In our exclusive article, we revealed the history of how a Southampton Vicar has excluded or threatened to exclude some General Election candidates from public events.
This has most recently been from the "hustings" earlier this month in Shirley for the Southampton Test constituency in the West of our City.
Reverend Dan Clark, the organiser, excluded the 2024 TUSC candidate Maggie Fricker from the Panel of candidates answering questions at the public meeting. If you click the link, you can see what Ms Fricker had to say in answer to our six basic questions that we sent to all candidates.
Now we can exclusively reveal that another candidate for Southampton Test has complained to the Rev Clark about how he was treated by the Churches Together organiser.
Wajahat Shaukat told us:
"It is disappointing to say the least to be at the receiving end of discriminatory actions furthermore to be labelled as a small party. Regardless of the size of the party such an opportunity should not have been offered if it was to be taken away in a degrading manner."
Mr Shaukat told us that he was originally invited to the hustings, only for the opportunity to be taken away, and that he had complained to Rev Clark. He told us that had to also consider child care arrangements, but would have taken part if the offer had not subsequently been taken away.
Residents may share his disappointment at what he called "discrimination" and "degrading" treatment.
Ben Burcombe-Filer, the Conservative Candidate for Southampton Test, who was at the hustings, did reply but declined to comment, saying:
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| Ben Burcombe-Filer |
"I am afraid it has reached the point in the campaign where I really do not have the time to comment any further."
So it seems that if you believe the Green candidate Katherine Barbour, also a Christian, then:
"God decides when we die."
and it seems that when it comes to the Churches Together hustings in Shirley, that the Vicar decides which candidates can take part and which cannot.
Many Sotonians will not agree that candidates should be silenced in this way.
Southampton Independents does not. We have given equal treatment to all candidates.
We have offered the Rev Clark the right of reply. He declined to comment further.
Offers were made for reply to Labour Candidate and Shirley Councillor and former Leader of the near-bankrupt City Council Satvir Kaur and Ms Barbour, but have received nothing further from either since.
Why Southampton Independents Is Covering the 2024 General Election
Southampton
Independents recommends no particular candidate in the 2024 General
Election. We publish this information and the information about the
other candidates to help inform Southampton residents for their vote, or
for them to choose not to vote or to positively spoil their ballot by
writing "none of the above". It's your choice.
The other candidates standing in Southampton Test are listed here.
Tell us what you think by getting in touch.
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