CANDIDATES hoping to become Bromsgrove’s MP in May’s General Election have taken part in a special hustings event at a town school.

The event was held at South Bromsgrove High School this afternoon, (March 20) and chaired by BBC Midlands Today presenter Michael Collie.

There was tough questioning for the candidates: Sajid Javid, Conservative, Tom Ebbutt, Labour, Liberal Democrat’s candidate Bart Ricketts, Stuart Cross, UKIP, and Giovanni Esposito representing the Green Party.

Youngsters from host school South Bromsgrove High as well as from North Bromsgrove High School and Bromsgrove School put their questions direct to the candidates.

Among the topics debated were immigration, the future of Bromsgrove High Street and the electoral voting system.

At the beginning of the debate candidates were given one minute to introduce themselves and make a pitch to voters.

Mr Esposito, known to many as poet Spoz, said the party he was standing for - the Greens - were the ones with sensible policies on issues such as renewable energy.

Mr Cross said he was standing for the party of common sense, and said voting for UKIP was voting for a change that is needed.

Mr Ebbutt said the Labour party was the party of social justice and opportunity for all, while Mr Ricketts introduced himself and said he was running a positive campaign.

In his one minute Mr Javid – the town’s current MP and Culture Secretary – said he wanted to live in a country that works for everyone, with a strong economy providing jobs for young people.

Mr Javid faced tough questioning on Artrix funding, following Bromsgrove District councillors' decision to reduce funding for the arts centre from £120,000 to £60,000 a year.

Mr Esposito said it was outrageous that funding for an arts centre had been cut in the constituency of a Culture Secretary.

Mr Javid said the centre received £1 million a year in grants and funding, so the reduction was in fact six per cent - not 50 per cent that some had presumed.

He also stressed there had been no cuts to services after the loss of group 'Acting Up' at the centre was brought up, adding he had helped secure new county council funding.

On the town centre Mr Ebbutt said the high street was behind others and Labour wanted a town centre partnership – bringing together residents, businesses and the council - to change this.

During a debate on the Europe Union, Mr Cross said it was a political union that now overruled MPs and judges that Britain should leave, while Mr Ricketts said it was his view the UK should stay part of the EU.

A vote was taken of audience members, with the majority saying there would vote in a referendum for the UK to stay in Europe.

There was a consensus between candidates that people able to vote should do on May 7, and they all hoped to engage young people ahead of polling day.

The debate closed with applause for the candidates and for Mr Collie - who was praised for the way he had hosted the debate.

Following the event, Mr Collie told the Advertiser he had enjoyed the quality of the debate and was impressed by the standard of questions from pupils.

Mr Collie said: “It is great to have this sort of event for students.

“They are the future of Bromsgrove and our country - and it was great to see them holding their MP to account.”