Labour candidate absent from hustings again as Claire Sully shows Lib Dems will deliver for business

Labour candidate Leigh Redman was yet again a notable absentee from a hustings event, when he was nowhere to be seen as candidates met at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce.

Business owners and members of the Commerce questioned general election candidates vying for the Bridgwater seat, with Claire Sully demonstrating how the Liberal Democrats are now the party of business, saying Conservative failures in wrecking the economy have let down business owners in Bridgwater, Burnham and Highbridge.

Today’s event was the second hustings of the campaign, following an event on Thursday at Robert Blake School in Bridgwater, for which Labour candidate Leigh Redman, who went to school at Robert Blake, also failed to attend.

The Labour candidate has also caused the cancellation of two further hustings event – one in Burnham for Churches Together, and another for Pride on Sea in Highbridge – due to his declining of invitations to both events, leaving organisers with no option but to cancel.

Just one scheduled hustings event remains, with the NFU Hustings on June 27.

Claire said: “The Labour candidate has shown how he takes business leaders for granted by not attending this important hustings event at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce.

“If he has more important things to do, how does he expect to meet the requirements of his electorate as an MP? He has not attended a single hustings event and caused the cancellation of two further hustings. This is not the appropriate actions of a future MP and residents of the Bridgwater constituency deserve much better.

“I am out listening to business owners, offering the Liberal Democrat vision for the economy. I am listening to constituents across Bridgwater, Burnham, Highbridge and North Petherton, working hard for communities and championing projects. There is only one candidate who is capable of delivering for Bridgwater, and that’s Claire Sully and the Lib Dems.”

On the economy and business, Claire Sully clashed with Conservative candidate Ashley Fox over his party’s failure to adequately fund local councils up and down the country, while criticising the Conservatives’ record in delivering for businesses across the Bridgwater region.

Claire was the only candidate to remain at the Business Expo event after the hustings, speaking to business owners and listening to their needs to see their businesses flourish.

“The Conservatives have caused a financial crisis in local government,” Claire said. “One in five councils in England and Wales fear going bankrupt and issuing a Section 114 notice, something which has already happened to five councils, including the Tory-run Thurrock Council.

“Furthermore, business closures across Sedgemoor have increased by 92% since 2018, the third highest in the whole country.

“The Conservatives have failed business, but in the Liberal Democrats there is a plan to rejuvenate the high street and boost the economy. Business owners across Bridgwater are now looking to the Lib Dems to secure a brighter future.”