All candidates at a packed election hustings meeting held on Monday in the Royal Docks area of Newham expressed opposition to any further expansion of London City Airport. The meeting, organized by HACAN East (the body which represents residents under the airport’s flight paths), was addressed by representatives of the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Christian Peoples Alliance, the Trade Union and Socialist Party and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and the Green Party. UKIP sent its apologies. Only Newham Labour refused to attend. It was represented by an empty chair.
In one of the very few hustings meetings being held in Newham, a wide range of topics were raised by both the speakers and the audience. John Stewart from HACAN East, who chaired the meeting, said, “It was lively, informed debate. It is just a pity it was boycotted by Labour.”
HACAN East has written to the Labour Party asking it to back up with hard evidence their allegation made to the media that HACAN East has “deliberately misrepresented the views of the Council and those elected to it”. It has yet to get a reply.
Speaking at the meeting were: Lois Austin (TUSC), Caroline Allen (Green) and Stefen Mrozinski (Conservative), Alex Ocan Latim of the Christian Peoples Alliance and Jonathan Fryer of the Liberal Democrats. The empty chair made no comment.