Shropshire business bosses will grill hopefuls
Candidates in two Shropshire seats will be grilled by business owners at a hustings event tomorrow night.
The Federation of Small Businesses is holding the event to allow the owners of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to question candidates in the constituencies of Telford and The Wrekin.
Held at the Holiday Inn in Telford between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, the event will be chaired by Shropshire Star business editor Thom Kennedy.
He said: "There has been a lot of talk about the economy during the course of this election campaign, but little of it has focused on how a new government would encourage further growth among the country's SMEs.
"This hustings will provide an ideal platform for local people to ask their parliamentary candidates what they intend to do to boost business in their constituency, and what their party plans to do at a national level.
"We have received a number of questions from some of those already planning to attend the event, which should ensure that the candidates give us a true insight into their plans for power."
The panel so far includes the Conservative candidates Lucy Allan and Mark Pritchard, Green nominees Peter Hawkins and Cath Edwards, Labour's David Wright and Katrina Gilman, and Ukip's Denis Allen and Jill Seymour. Questions, with a business theme, should be submitted before the event, via the booking link, or by emailing FSB at angela.fitch@fsb.org.uk
Ray Hickinbottom, chairman for FSB Shropshire, added: "Many people are undecided about who they will vote for when they go to the polls in May and this is a perfect opportunity to meet the individual candidates who hope to represent them for the next five years. The evening will be of particular interest to business owners; those who employ local people and who do so much for both the local and national economy.
"However, this joint event with Shropshire Star, is open to anyone and we hope to get a good mix of people from across the constituencies."
