A HUSTINGS with a difference saw four candidates for the marginal Bolton West seat give their views on ‘good society’.

Brought together to debate at Horwich RMI were Conservative candidate Chris Green, Labour’s Julie Hilling, Liberal Democrat Andrew Martin and John Vickers from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

Chaired by the Rt. Revd Chris Edmondson, Bishop of Bolton, the hustings was organised by Churches Together as a “positive starting point” to engage with political and public debate.

Each candidate had five minutes to present their views on what makes a good society, before answering written questions from the audience – with the topics of discussion ranging from welfare cuts and the NHS to the controversial Horwich Loco Works development site.

For Mr Green, first to speak, the development of a good and fair society came hand in hand with The Conservatives’ long term economic plan.

He said: “If we don’t pay for our services, our children and grandchildren will end up paying for them.”

Mr Green spoke of the importance of improving the education system and how The Conservatives had diversified options for school leavers giving students options beyond university.

He added: “A good society is also about trying to get a fair recovery from the recession, and making sure the tax rate is there for the highest earners.

“By having entrepreneurs and people creating wealth in Britain, we have created two million more jobs.”

Bolton West is a key marginal seat, which was won by Ms Hilling by a majority of 92 votes in 2010.

She said: “The good society for me is one where everybody can reach their full potential, irrespective of background.

“One where there is security of employment, with zero hours contracts banned. One where children do not live in poverty, people don’t have to turn to food banks and everyone has a home to live in. Currently we are very far from that vision.”

Ms Hilling said it was a “disgrace” that one million people used food banks last year, one or three of them in work, and said Labour would agree the coalition’s “pernicious” benefits sanction regime.

She added: “These are real lives, real people that need a government that is on their side.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Mr Martin drew on his Christian faith to describe his vision of a good society as one concerned with the stewardship of the planet.

He said: “I also believe a good society is judged by how we treat the most vulnerable.

“I am so proud that thanks to the Lib Dems in Government we have ended child detention.”

Mr Martin said he accepted the coalition had its failings, but said his party had nearly doubled the yearly number of apprenticeships and had help create almost 12,000 in Bolton since 2010.

He added: “Only the Lib Dems will deliver a fairer society, keep debts under control and protect our environment for future generations – and that is the best society I think we can hope for.”

Mr Vickers said his party was suggesting an “alternative to austerity”.

He said: “Everybody requires certain things; air, food, water, protection from the elements and safety from harm.

“If homeless people are on the streets, children go hungry while others eat, or people are unemployed while others work too hard, we don’t have a good society.”

Mr Vickers added: “We all have potential, but some of us do not have access to the resources which are needed to fulfil that.

“What my organisation hopes to do is bring the sound principles of a socialist commonwealth into this country with free, democratic, public spirited and fair use of its resources which are organised for the good of the British people.”

Not present at the debate were UKIP candidate Bob Horsefield and independent candidate Andy Smith.