Nick says no to debate without MP

8.21.57am GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

Nick Perry, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hastings & Rye, has refused to attend the Federation of Small Businesses debate scheduled for 25 March following the news that, after initially sitting on the fence, Labour MP Michael Foster is set to cancel.

Members of the Hastings Unite Against Fascism group report that a mid-week meeting of the constituency Labour Party resulted in a decision for Mr Foster not to attend on 25 March.

The FSB debate has caused controversy because, along with the main political parties, the organisation had invited the BNP.

Nick Perry has written to the Federation's Branch Chair Brett McLean, criticising the decision of the MP, and suggesting that, if Michael Foster won't attend, the whole event be cancelled:

'Personally, I believe that this is the wrong decision by Michael and the Labour Party, and will play into the BNP's hands on the doorstep.

'That aside, it is also my view that there is absolutely no point in having a pre-Election, Question Time-style event when the local MP will not be present, and it will not be possible to hold him and his party to account for the many and various mistakes that the Labour Government has made over the past 13 years.'