YOUR 5 Questions for All Candidates in GE2019

We recently asked S&C readers and social media followers what one question you would ask all the candidates in Portsmouth North and South in the General Election. Here are the top 5.

From the many – and diverse – answers we received, we selected the following five questions, which we have sent to all 10 candidates of Portsmouth North and Portsmouth South in the 2019 election, with a requested deadline of Monday 2nd December for their replies.

To choose the top 5, we took into account the number of times questions were asked on each topic, whether questions were suitable for all candidates (i.e. some related to individual candidates, or to either Portsmouth North or South), and whether we have seen the topic or question covered in other local reporting (e.g. we didn’t include a question on Brexit for this reason).

Portsmouth’s 5 Questions

GRA and the Equality Act

What amendments would you make to the Gender Recognition Act to advance the rights of trans and non-binary people in the UK, and what steps will you take to ensure all public bodies serving the area comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 as they relate to single sex exemptions?

Social security and benefits

The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently reported that the worst-off 10% of households have lost 7% of their income since 2019, rising to 18% among families with children. The highest earning 10% have seen their incomes fall by 4%. How will your party ensure that the social security system is fair and compassionate, and that the benefit system lifts families out of poverty – closing the vast disparity of income and wealth in our country?

Homelessness

What will you do to help homeless people in Portsmouth, with particular regard to the housing shortage and cuts to services, e.g. for mental health, for trauma survivors, and for people suffering from problematic drug and alcohol use?

NHS and public health

Portsmouth residents have told us they are unable to book a GP appointment within 3 weeks, and are referred to a walk-in service, which one resident described as ‘a stressful experience in itself’. What is your plan to improve and protect the NHS? And how will you improve public health in the city, including with regard to mental health and obesity in the city?

Schools

In terms of both policy and funding, how will you improve support to Portsmouth schools, including meeting the needs of vulnerable children with Special Educational Needs?

 

We will publish replies on the website and share them on social media as we receive them from the candidates.

In the meantime, tell us what you would like to hear from candidates in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter.