Around 90 people had the chance to quiz their prospective MPs on climate change issues at a hustings in Liskeard Public Hall.

The event was organised by South East Cornwall Extinction Rebellion (XR) and on the panel were Labour’s Gareth Derrick, Martha Green of the Green Party and Lib Dem Colin Martin.

Regret was expressed that the former MP and Conservative candidate Sheryll Murray was not there to answer questions; she had said she would not be attending any public hustings events.

A good range of questions had been tabled in advance, said XR. Topics included the lack of eco-friendly requirements on developers (all three candidates agreed that they would require new houses to meet net zero carbon energy standards).

One questioner asked if Looe should be defended from the sea, or whether there should be a managed retreat. While Gareth Derrick said that Labour would invest in building flood defences, the other candidates spoke more generally about the need to prevent climate change to prevent sea levels rising.

‘The candidates were asked why they had not formed an electoral pact, considering that the best way to address climate change in this country was felt to be to get rid of the Conservative Government,’ said an XR spokesperson.

‘They were asked how they would co-operate to stop a re-elected Conservative government from doing damage to the environment. On this question there was no strong desire shown for the parties to work together, although in some parts of the country the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have agreements to stand down a candidate.

‘The issue of proportional representation also came up, with Colin Martin strongly advocating for this change which was clearly supported by the audience.’

Overall there was much broad agreement between the candidates on how to tackle environmental issues such as population growth, global warming caused by farming practices, and the balancing of economic growth with protecting biodiversity. This left one audience member expressing the view that the event had ‘not helped her decide who to vote for’.