A GENERAL Election candidate has refused to attend an election hustings claiming that the event could be biased against her.

Labour’s Catherine McKinnell, who is standing for re-election in Newcastle North, will not be taking part in a question time event at the Chapel House Community Centre today (Saturday).

She claims that, because an independent city councillor and one of her former election opponents have helped organise the event, she is “not convinced” that the hustings “would meet an appropriate standard of political neutrality”.

The event is being promoted on the Denton and Westerhope Independents Facebook page, but Organisers say it is a non-political event being run for and chaired by local residents.

The constituency’s other general election candidates have all agreed to attend – Liberal Democrat Nick Cott, the Green Party’s Alistair Ford, Conservative Mark Lehain, and Brexit Party candidate Richard Ogden. No independent candidate is standing in the constituency.

Ms McKinnell, who has held Newcastle North since 2010 and won a majority of more than 10,000 at the past two elections, said: “I have always attended previous hustings events organised by non-political and impartial groups, so I’m disappointed this event has been organised by a group that stands candidates at elections. Hustings should be for the whole community, not just a local political group.  

“I am out meeting with local residents groups and speaking to people every day, and am always happy to respond to any questions or concerns. 

“As the only local candidate who lives in the constituency, I’ve worked hard to support our community over the last nine years, and I am happy to be judged on my record of fighting and delivering for Newcastle North.”

Angela Olver, who will chair the meeting, said independent Chapel ward councillor Marc Donnelly and former Parliamentary candidate Brian Moore were asked to help arrange the hustings as residents did not know how.

She said that the intention was to allow outer west residents who often feel “forgotten” to ask questions of the people vying to become their next MP, adding: “This is not a political event, it is for local residents. 

“Just because we have talked to people who have a political background does not mean that we are a political group. This event was residents’ idea, it has come from them.”

The hustings idea was first brought up at a meeting of the Save Our Field group, which has recently clashed with Newcastle City Council over plans to build 60 new homes on a field next to the West Denton Community Centre.

Mr Moore, who stood in Newcastle North for the North of England Community Alliance in 2017 and has also previously stood for election for UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, said that questions at the hustings would be chosen at random from the floor.

In an email to Ms McKinnell, he said: “As you would also expect, councillors undertake requests from residents and help to facilitate activities/meetings.  It does not mean however they are actively participating but simply giving residents the opportunity to be involved in the democratic process.

“Just for the benefit of any doubt Coun Donnelly is an Independent and is not affiliated or associated with any political party.  I fall into the same category as I am not a member of any political party and I have been assisting a local residents group who asked for the hustings but did not know the process.”