UKIP candidate omitted from church hustings debate

A UK Independence Party candidate has been blocked from being allowed to take to the stage in a church hustings debate.

Steve Povey said it was "sad" that he was not allowed to take a full part in the Biddulph Methodist church event.

The Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates contesting Staffordshire Moorlands all backed Mr Povey's plea for parity in the debate.

Event organisers Churches Together said Mr Povey could speak from the floor.

Mr Povey, who polled more than 3,500 votes for UKIP in the 2005 election, said his omission from the stage at Sunday's event, at 2000 BST, had actually helped his election campaign.

He said: "It's sad but it's the people of Biddulph who are going to miss out.

"But the amount of support I've been getting from people in the town ringing up and saying 'it's disgusting' has probably got me more PR than the other three parties."

'Strange decision'

Labour candidate Charlotte Atkins said: "Given that we've only got four candidates it seems to me that everyone should have a voice."

Conservative candidate Karen Bradley said: "It seems a very strange decision to me. I think Mr Povey should be allowed to speak and be a full participant."

Liberal Democrat candidate Henry Jebb said: "I would urge them to allow Mr Povey to join us on the platform and answer questions appropriately."

Rev Andrew Dawswell, who helped organise the event, said: "We have invited UKIP to make a more limited contribution.

"We felt that when we took the decision we were following the national broadcasters' emphasis on the three main parties and their candidates, who are far more likely to have a say in government."

The candidates for Staffordshire Moorlands are: Labour: Charlotte Atkins; Conservative: Karen Bradley; Liberal Democrat: Henry Jebb; UK Independence Party: Steve Povey.