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General Election 2019: Sevenoaks hustings to debate the environment

Climate change and the environment are key issues on the minds of many voters at the forth-coming General Election, but how are our politicians going to deal with the crisis?

The Sevenoaks branch of Extinction Rebellion has organised a hustings in Sevenoaks to give the public the chance to find out.

Climate change is worrying many voters
Climate change is worrying many voters

The debate on nature and climate will be chaired by Aliy Walsingham of XR Sevenoaks and Amanda Carpenter, the presenter of Planet Pod.

The event will be held in the Otford Village Memorial Hall in Otford High Street from 7.30pm on Monday, November 25.

All six candidates at the election have been invited and so far four have accepted: they are Gareth Willis (Lib Dem), Seamus McCauley (Lab), Paul Wharton (Green) and Sean Finch (Libertarian Party).

Tea and and cake will be available for a donation.

Laura Clout, a spokesperson from Extinction Rebellion Sevenoaks said: “We want every candidate to have their chance to make their voice heard on this matter of unprecedented importance to all life on earth."

She said that candidates who could not make it personally were welcome to send a substitute, but those who didn't turn up would be "empty-chaired."

Ms Clout said: “Eighty-five per cent of adults are now concerned about global warming, the highest figure since pollsters started asking this question in 2005. Politicians would be remiss to think this issue does not matter to the people of Sevenoaks.

“We are an apolitical movement. We just want a balanced debate.

“The climate crisis has leaped up the political agenda but there is much work still to do if we are to have any hope of avoiding disaster on a massive scale, and possibly the extinction of all human life.

“Voters are right to ask their would-be representatives how they intend to tackle this. This is the last Government who can actually make a difference."

The other candidates standing in the election are Laura Trott (Conservative) and Paulette Furse (Independent).

Entry is free. All welcome.

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