Eastleigh Central Ward candidates video hustings

[8s] Hi there, I am Josh Constable.

[26s] I'm the Labour and Cooperative Party candidate at the Eastleigh Central by-election on February 10th.

[33s] I live locally, I work locally in the ward, and I also work in town for our NHS in financial analytics.

[44s] Hi, my name is Simon Payne and i'm a conservative candidate for Eastley Central.

[49s] i live here in our town centre with my wife Paula and two of our four children.

[61s] Hi, I'm Claire Forster, Reform UK candidate for the by-election.

[66s] So, a bit about me.

[69s] I've got a little bit of political history.

[70s] With the Brexit party, did a lot of work with them.

[75s] I've lived in Eastleigh in the borough for 11 years, I lived at the town centre for 2-3 years.

[80s] I worked in town as well, worked for the NHS at Omega House for almost 5 years and I did a contract roll up at Prismium supporting the directors there.

[89s] Im a seasoned campaigner, passionate about politics, i was the chair of the UK employee forum for a big financial services organisation in Southampton

[100s] until I was made redundant.

[102s] So I looked after 4,000 employers interests and fought for their rights there.

[107s] Also I lead a leaseholder action group on my development.

[110s] I'm looking to widen that out so that leaseholders can get the same rights as other homeowners.

[116s] So, I hope you find that useful.

[118s] Cheers!

[136s] My favourite biscuit is definitely shortbread, yep, no hesitation.

[142s] Ginger nut, and when at home working, I dunk them in my coffee.

[147s] Okay, so question number two, this is a really easy one.

[151s] What's your favourite biscuit?

[152s] Well, there's only one biscut for me and that's a custard cream.

[155s] Dunk it in your tea, everyone's happy.

[157s] Love them, absolutely love them.

[158s] Always have.

[159s] Loved them since I was a kid.

[161s] Erm, what does that say about me?

[163s] Who knows?

[164s] I like things a bit sweet maybe, now and then.

[168s] And I definitely like custards on an apple pie preferably.

[172s] Cheers.

[178s] I'm standing in the by-election because it's about time we had some change on Eastley Borough Council.

[186s] I think I've got the ideas and energy and more importantly actually the record of standing up for our community, both at Borough council meetings and outside

[197s] of them.

[199s] But yeah, ultimately the reason I am standing is because we need new representation on the Eastly Borough administration just simply isn't up to the job

[210s] and there's no denying that we've got a lot of problems facing Eastley but I think together if we can bring our community together,

[217s] get some fresh ideas, new input, we we tackle it and we make Eastleigh better than ever.

[224s] I am a local resident just like you and I care about easily.

[228s] I use the town centre and the council services just as you.I want to protect and improve our town center so that we can all continue to enjoy using it.

[238s] i will work with our Conservative MP and our local conservative team to deliver on our plans and priorities we have outlined.i want the chance of status

[247s] quo of decisions being made along the Liberal Democrat party lines.

[251s] I would be honoured to be your representative and are thankful to everyone who does take the time to vote for me and I won't let your trust in me down.

[261s] Question number three, why am I standing in this election?

[264s] Okay so as I said in my earlier response to question one, I have been in politics for a while, did a lot of work with the Brexit party,

[271s] stood with them.

[272s] Also I stood in Baddersley last year so I'm not completely wet behind the ears.

[278s] I've spent a long time debating most of my life I did a lot of it online during the Brexit campaign and then I thought to myself,

[285s] why don't you actually just do something?

[287s] Do something, stop sitting behind your keyboard, getting angry at people's opinions on you as a Brexiteer, some horrible things said.

[297s] So I decided to get up and do somethin' about it and I'd did my first street store with a Brexit party down in Gosport in 2019. I want to do some thing

[306s] that adds value to people lives instead of just sitting moaning and not only that, Eastley's my home and I'm really proud to live here,

[314s] I love it here and i love the people, they're my kind of people.

[324s] Everybody should vote in local elections.

[326s] The ideal would be 100% turnout, but as close to that as we can get would have been amazing.

[331s] Sadly, only less than one third of residents usually vote for local election, and that's usually even lower for by-elections.

[339s] So I'm hoping we'll have a really high turnout this election and I hope you will come out and vote.

[344s] We're not all the same.

[345s] There are some very stark differences between the political parties standing.

[350s] Labour is standing on a clear policy platform in our local manifesto that is future-facing, that takes the climate emergency seriously and will get real action,

[360s] council their direct involvement to get our economy back on track.

[366s] I mean, I hope watching these videos those differences will become clearer and I really do believe I am a different sort of candidate and one that can

[375s] offer the change that Eastley desperately needs.

[379s] This is a local election which impacts the local services and planning where you and I live.

[385s] We need to ensure everyone is represented and your voice listened to.

[389s] The Liberal Democrat majority in May 2021 was considerably reduced.

[394s] Your vote could actually make the difference.

[398s] OK, so next question, why vote?

[400s] We're all the same, aren't we, as politicians?

[402s] Well, I understand why people have got that view, that's why I'm standing, because we're not all the same actually.

[408s] I am standing with Reform UK, they're a fresh new party with fresh ideas.

[413s] The status quo has just been so embedded in this country, the two party system needs to change.

[423s] And if you don't vote, right, especially for women, we fought for this.

[428s] People died, women died to get this vote and I'm very grateful for all they did there.

[433s] But if donít vote how will us politicians know what you want?

[436s] Or more importantly, how well we know you what doníst want.

[441s] So they're my reasons to say get out and vote next Thursday.

[446s] Even if feel you just want to make a bit of a protest of what's been going on and the government and lots of reasons for people to vote this time,

[454s] definitely.

[456s] So that's why I'm advocating for everyone to go out and vote.

[460s] Cheers love, bye.

[467s] The first three things that I think we need to address, and I would make my priority if I was elected on behalf of Eastley residents,

[477s] would be, number one, I'd want to immediately open the office that i'm in now, our Easty Labour office in town, to hold regular surgeries for residents

[487s] so that they've got a central point where they can come and have a face-to-face conversation about their concerns.

[493s] I think another probably the second one would be the current emptiness of town.

[501s] I thing we need to really get town centre regeneration sorted ASAP.

[507s] And number three would have to be environmental concerns.

[511s] i would want to start working with councillors ASAP to get plans for urban greening on the agenda for the coming year.

[520s] Parking, both residents and car parks, bins, getting more people and jobs back into the town.

[526s] Okay, the first three things I'd address.

[529s] Okay let's get our police station back open.

[531s] We can't do it Lee Road because it's going to be made into flats but there are places in the town centre we could have that visible police presence where

[538s] people could go to if they needed it.

[541s] Second thing, town center revitalisation.

[543s] Let's people back into town.

[545s] Visitors, let get people spending in shops.

[548s] Free parking, so you pay for your parking but on the back of your ticket you get the same amount back of what you've paid as a discount to use in the shops.

[556s] It's infinitely possible, these are small things we could do, it's getting a project up and running to make this happen and I'd intend to do that,

[564s] I love a good project.

[566s] And the third thing, residents parking.

[568s] When I lived in the town centre, I had a parking space outside my flat, so I didn't really realise what an issue it was.

[573s] But people are furious about it.

[576s] There's so many better ways that this could be addressed.

[578s] And the Liberal Democrats, when they brought in The Residence Park and said there will never be a charge for this, they lied.

[590s] The way that I would want to try and get people coming back to our town centre is to take action on all of the empty shops that are in Eastley.

[600s] We've got so many and it's not just coronavirus, we all know, everyone who lives in eastley knows that we had empty lots.

[610s] from way before coronavirus, it's been a feature of our heart streets for far too long.

[613s] And I think if you can get local businesses and local cooperatives as well, community enterprise and non-for-profit organisations in there,

[625s] and you could get that generation, you get the activity, people will come.

[629s] We know they will.

[631s] You've seen it in places around the country where High street regeneration and restoration has been a priority of councils,

[639s] particularly Labour councils and I want to bring those same ideas through community wealth building to Eastley.

[645s] Free evening and weekend parking, town centre events, themed markets.

[650s] Many businesses are still seeing reduced footfall.

[653s] Let's get the businesses together and look at promotions and incentives to attract people back in.

[660s] Okay, so the next question, what would I do to bring people back into town?

[663s] So I've already talked about the free parking.

[665s] You could do a park and ride outside of town that brings people in.

[671s] Similar, money off in the shops on the back of their parking ticket.

[675s] That sounds easy, doesn't it?

[676s] It is easy.

[678s] Also, I think it's vital to start treating the businesses in easily a bit better, helping them with the business rates more,

[687s] getting more businesses into town that will attract them if they're not having to pay as much, outing rent and business rights and all the associated costs.

[695s] and we end up with a more varied high street like that.

[698s] I love to support local businesses and I do it whenever I can.

[702s] More businesses equals more choice for people, which equals, more attractiveness to actually come into the town centre.

[710s] There's just three off the top of my head.

[717s] The community arts projects or events that I would like to continue to develop, I mean, East Labour have long been supportive of Pride.

[725s] I think that's been amazing for Eastley to have that.

[730s] We've had a real buzz at all of those events.

[732s] It's been really lovely.

[733s] Same for the Miele, I would want to continue supporting those, but I think there's opportunities and I shouldn't be the one to be deciding this.

[741s] I'd want meet with representatives of places like The Point, the old sorting office and actually also our schools.

[749s] We've got schools and colleges In Eastleigh I think we've got a wealth of talent there.

[754s] I would want to start cultivating it and saying, you know, what do you think that we could do?

[758s] Where can we do more?

[761s] And I'd take their advice and I push for them.

[765s] They know far better than any of us.

[767s] Us could possibly know what kind of events would be good for our town.

[771s] We had the accident point here in the town centre and would like to see more of the events on the rec ground.

[777s] We also have the sorting office and I actually enjoy the opening days.

[781s] The manner, Christmas lights, pride, we need to support these events.

[785s] We need more events for the youths in our community.

[790s] Okay so the next question is what local community arts projects or events would you continue or develop?

[796s] Okay, so I think the Mella's brilliant, Eastley Pride event is brilliant as well, it brings people into town, there are always great events,

[804s] we do, actually the council does alright on this kind of stuff.

[808s] One thing I'd like to see them do better on and that I would encourage is we've got that beautiful bandstand there.

[814s] I'm a brass bander so this is really close to my heart.

[817s] i've never played on that band stand in 11 years.I'd to like see a proper program of bands to go on there, not just brass bands,

[824s] it could be any kind of band, jazz bands that kind thing.

[828s] Also youth services, we got the Energy Centre down in Eastleigh on Leigh Road.

[834s] It's actually only open seven and a half hours a week.

[837s] So let's continue to do more of that.

[841s] You know, the kids don't just want to go somewhere for a couple of hours here and there.

[845s] They want a regular place they can go where they could meet with the friends.

[848s] I think that's really important.

[849s] It actually might drive down the antisocial behaviour as well.

[858s] No, I've never been a member of another political party.

[861s] I joined the Labour Party in 2015 actually on election night.

[867s] Um, i'd done some volunteering because I thought that already after five years of Conservative government the country was starting to to be pulled apart

[879s] and you could see the damage that austerity was doing and I was angry, I was very angry at the kind of politicians that we had and that's why from there

[892s] I decided to get more and more involved.

[894s] I joined the cooperative party in 2019, yeah, sister party to the Labour Party, so I'm actually standing for two political parties at this election,

[904s] but yeah so no, never any other political party other than Labour and now Labour & Co-operative.

[911s] This one's easy, no.

[913s] So the next question is, have you ever been a member of a different political party?

[918s] Okay, so yes, I told you about the Brexit party and the work I'd done with them.

[921s] I was also a fully paid up member at the Conservative party for a long, long time.

[927s] However, when the brexit debacle when we didn't leave, and I cut up my card, my metaphorical card cancelled my direct debit and sent a stiff email to them,

[937s] I can't trust them anymore, I cant trust to do what they say to the Conservatives.

[942s] It's not good enough, they keep letting down the British people.

[944s] I mean look at what's going on now, it's just crazy and the people aren't stupid are they?

[952s] I'm really really angry about the way that Westminster is behaving, the conservative party is being behaving.

[961s] Its just madness.

[964s] If we're to have people really get out and vote and get behind us, they need to trust us and what's in there right now is not giving us trust.

[988s] I have been living in Eastleigh since 2017. I moved here after finishing my degree in history at Winchester University.

[997s] Hi, right, next question.

[999s] This is an easy one.

[1000s] So how long have I lived in eastleigh?

[1002s] Right, so I've moved down to Hampshire in 2011. and I moved to Eastleigh in 2012, but I did start working in Eastle in 2011. I lived in the town since

[1023s] two to three years and now I live just on the border actually up near Asda.

[1031s] It's really lovely easily, it's a great place, lovely friendly people, It reminds me of being back in Manchester really,

[1038s] they've taken me to their hearts and I've take easily to my heart too.

[1043s] I don't really want to live anywhere else if I'm honest.

[1048s] So yeah, like I say, here since 2011, worked here in 2011. Lived in the town centre for two, three years and I just love it.

[1064s] The last ELAC meeting I attended was before the pandemic, before lockdown in 2020, possibly the end of 2019, can't remember the exact meeting.

[1076s] But yeah, they suspended in-person public participation and due to an illness, I couldn't attend during the in between.

[1086s] lockdown one, lockdown two, but I attended virtually watching along, spoke to various residents about their concerns.

[1093s] I've made representations at these meetings on a number of issues, including air quality, climate change, poverty, social housing,

[1104s] and including supporting residents with their concern, helping them write their representations.

[1108s] I've also attended Eastley Borough Council meetings, particularly to oppose the Liberal Democrat Local Plan, and also the ELAC and full council meetings

[1120s] for the airport expansion.

[1122s] This is the key committee for the three easterly wards and I feel it's important that any potential Councillor should know how it works.

[1129s] I used to attend this regularly before lockdown.

[1132s] i've been to all meetings which have been held in public since June 2021.I've raised issues with the allotments, the bins in the access roads,

[1140s] leaves, old civic office site, lack of a market and waste designation on Chicken Hall in local plan.

[1148s] Next question is, when did you last attend a meeting of the Eastleat Local Area Committee and what issues did your raise?

[1154s] So, hands up, fess up time.

[1157s] Politicians don't do that very often, do they?

[1159s] I've never actually attended one of their meetings.

[1162s] However, what I do do is I always make sure I look at the minutes and digest what has happened after the meeting.

[1170s] There's various reasons why I have not attended.

[1173s] Sometimes they fall on nights when I'm doing my brass band rehearsals, things like that.

[1177s] Generally I've got a fairly busy life with other stuff that I do, my leaseholder action group.

[1182s] But I keep an eye on what's going on and I have lots of thoughts on that.

[1187s] Obviously now, after this election, I'm going to make some more time for myself and start taking more of an interest in the committee because they do do

[1197s] some interesting things.

[1199s] Okay, hope that answers that one.

[1207s] Who don't, I think, will participate in the speed hustings and why.

[1211s] I'm not going to speculate on individual candidates or their campaigns, sorry.

[1216s] It's my sincere hope that every candidate will respond to this.

[1226s] Campaigning shouldn't just be putting your name on the ballot paper, you need to be out there, knocking doors, talking to people,

[1234s] actively campaigning.

[1236s] You know, campaigning for an election is not just putting leaflets through doors.

[1241s] It is having those conversations and listening to people.

[1244s] And hustings is a great opportunity for that.

[1246s] I mean, my record on that is abundantly clear ever since 2018. Uh, I've been calling for regular local election hustlings and trying to get those set up.

[1255s] Um, and yeah, just a quick, massive thank you to Adam and the team at Eastley online for, for sorting this hustling.

[1262s] But yeah.

[1263s] Yeah.

[1263s] Every candidate will, will submit a video.

[1267s] I hope everyone will.

[1268s] We're all busy with our campaigns at the moment, but this is an excellent way of connecting with residents and sharing why we are standing.

[1289s] Bit of an odd question, that one, I think.

[1291s] It's a bit leading, maybe.

[1294s] I'm not sure who asked that, who put that question up.

[1298s] Right, so I wanted everyone to attend.

[1301s] And I know it's been short notice and all that and I've really pushed for this.

[1306s] and i'm so glad it is happening and there's three of us.

[1309s] So you've got me, you got Simon for Conservatives and you have Josh for Labour.

[1315s] That's as far as I now.

[1317s] Who knows why other people don't want to attend?

[1320s] I don t think it's fair to speculate on that.

[1324s] It's not good form really to make accusations when you don' t know why people can't attend.

[1332s] I actually saw Baven in town today and he told me he was really sorry he couldn't but he's got so much on with his campaign and also with this work and

[1340s] you know that's his reason.

[1358s] Any increase in crime is particularly concerning and I think the biggest cause of a lot of these increases is the lack of police presence in Eastleigh,

[1370s] be that community policing or police officers.

[1374s] I thin the closure of Eastleigh police station definitely hasn't helped.

[1379s] But I think what measures the council can take and what myself as a councillor could take would be I would really want to push for greater training and

[1388s] awareness in all of our public institutions and ideally offering it to local businesses as well for spotting the signs of domestic abuse.

[1397s] I thin we can far more action on that.

[1400s] I think that the closure of the police station was bad, that's why Labour nationally have promised local police hubs, but I thing if we bring our community

[1408s] together and start checking in on our neighbours again and rebuild that sense of community we can work to keep each other safe and it's my sincere hope

[1415s] we accomplish that.

[1418s] We need to understand what has caused the increase in violent and sexual crime and tackle the root causes.

[1423s] I know and I welcome that we are getting additional police officers for Eastleigh as part of the additional 600 for Hampshire.

[1431s] Our Hampshire PCC Donna Jones has just awarded £263,000 to 51 projects to support victims and cut offending.

[1441s] I would work with our Conservative PSC and the local policing team on this issue.I would also like to see the police attend an ELAC like they used to to

[1450s] give updates on the area.

[1452s] So the next question's about the violence and sexual crime rising.

[1456s] Okay, so for me, a visible police presence on the streets, especially in the evenings when you're out in bars and the restaurants,

[1463s] the security staff at these establishments could only really deal with what's going on inside.

[1469s] When people are out on street walking home, walking between venues, there's potentially a massive issue, and there is a Okay,

[1477s] so one thing as a woman that I do like is the Ask Angela campaign.

[1482s] Some of the bars and restaurants in town have that, usually in the ladies' toilets.

[1485s] So this is where you can alert bar staff by just asking for Angela and they'll know you need help.

[1490s] Let's get that out there a bit more.

[1492s] Also, better street lighting.

[1495s] They get turned off at night.

[1497s] at certain times so when people are walking home from places it can be even darker and that just gives cover to criminals.

[1505s] So there's three off the top of my head that I've thought about and as a woman I feel really strongly about this.

[1517s] Yes, my political party, Easton Labour Party, has published its own local manifesto.

[1523s] We published it for the local elections in 2021. I have a copy literally here in front of me.

[1530s] So yeah, our party did.

[1532s] It's my understanding that still we're the only political Party to have done this.

[1535s] Maybe that's changed, but I haven't seen any party promoting theirs.

[1539s] And Yeah, I think it's a really important part of local politics to offer residents a clear reference point for a plan and I mean our manifesto is not

[1550s] a we'll do this tomorrow if we're elected, it is a long-term vision for the borough that will see our high streets restored,

[1558s] our environment protected and getting those right houses in the right places Anyone can read up about it on our website,

[1566s] eastylabor.co.uk.

[1568s] Also, any questions that anyone might have can get in touch with me directly.

[1572s] Thanks, Josh, for this question.

[1574s] We have not actually labelled it a manifesto.

[1577s] However, we have on the literature shown our top priorities to include the Great British Railways HQ and Easty Town Centre regeneration plan.

[1584s] But we also have how we will deliver for you, including a council tax cut, garden waste fees, parking charges and tidying up our town.

[1593s] Nearly there.

[1594s] So the question, have you or your party published a local manifesto with the plan freely?

[1600s] And if not, why not?

[1601s] Okay, so give me a chance.

[1605s] I'm kind of new to the party in a sense and Reform UK is fairly new as well.

[1610s] So have I got a local Eastley plan?

[1614s] Hands up, fess up time again, not at the moment.

[1617s] I am working on one.

[1619s] This by-election came as a bit of a surprise really.

[1622s] Not had a lot of time and I haven't got big party support, big teams to help me with doing stuff, but it's something I do intend to do.

[1631s] The Reform UK is currently publishing their national manifesto, their National essentials they call it, so you can take a look at that on the party website,

[1643s] but yes I'm working on it.

[1650s] The last thing that I would like to say to anyone watching this hustings is thank you.

[1655s] Thank you for taking the time to do the research, to watch this video, and to hear from your candidates.

[1661s] It's so important that people engage in their local democracy.

[1664s] I think a lot of the problems that we have on our local council are a result of voter apathy and I know some political parties take the choice to promote

[1675s] that apathie and to try and drive down turnout from particular supporters of particular parties, particular groups, because it suits them electorally and

[1685s] i think that's really negative.

[1687s] So it's my hope that everyone watching this will urge everyone they know in Eastley Central to vote on February 10th.

[1696s] I would obviously love it if you guys would support me and back my campaign for real change in Easterly.

[1702s] Thank you.

[1704s] There's a lot going on at a national level but let's put this aside, this is a local election.

[1710s] This election is about local people, local places and local policies.

[1715s] I would not take your vote for granted.

[1717s] this your chance to send a clear message that you want change and you'll want a council who will work and deliver for you with new ideas and will hold

[1725s] the current Lib Dem Control Council to account.

[1729s] Okay, last question.

[1732s] Anything else I'd like to say?

[1734s] I'm never short of anything to say so I am going to use the minute and take the opportunity.

[1739s] Right, so anything else I'd like to and in private business supporting executives.

[1753s] So I know what a good strategy plan looks like because I work on strategy plans with them.

[1759s] I've got a really varied history for my work, so I have worked in financial services, I worked law for a long time as well,

[1767s] worked manufacturing, and so, i've really got strong personal values.

[1773s] and I get things done.

[1776s] I don't give up, I'm like a flipping dog with a bone once I got going on a crusade.

[1780s] So last thing to say, if you're looking for something different, you think things should be reformed, then you know where I am.

[1820s] you