By the way, Watts Stelling was not at last night's hustings, either. Is he all right? Anyway, here is today's Northern Echo Q&A with all of the other North West Durham candidates. The questions and my answers were:
1) What are three key local issues facing your constituency, and how would you address them?
The three key local issues in North West Durham are good jobs and the transport provision necessary for them, affordable housing of a high quality, and the NHS, especially GP services in the Wear Valley and, in Derwentside, full hospital services in the Consett area in succession to Shotley Bridge.
2) Leave, remain or second referendum - what is your stance on Brexit and why?
Leave, because the EU did nothing to stop the descent of this part of the country from wealth and power in 1972 to poverty and powerlessness today. And no second referendum, because the people have already spoken.
3) Should people be prepared to pay additional tax to fund improvements in public services, like the NHS?
People in the highest income brackets, and certainly the five per cent above £80,000, ought to be prepared to pay a bit more for society as a whole to enjoy better public services, which are in everyone's economic interests.
4) High streets are struggling - what would you do to rescue them?
Made possible by being outside the EU's Single Market and Customs Union, I would compel public bodies to buy local and to require their contractors to do likewise. I would reorganise business rates completely, with very low, or if possible zero, rates on independent shops. And I would impose a windfall tax on the supermarkets, to fund agriculture and small business.
5) What does the Northern Powerhouse need to make it work?
The Northern Powerhouse needs the plan for the rail service that was advanced by The Northern Echo and other regional newspapers in June 2018. In the coming hung Parliament, I would not support any Government that did not give effect to that plan.
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