The hustings at the Environment Centre in Swansea went well. Having been organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Cymru, an umbrella organisation representing almost 70 environment organisations and charities, the session concentrated on “green” issues.The opening remarks by the chairman, Phil MacDonald of the Swansea Environment Forum, suggested that feelings might run high, as he looked meaningfully at some members of the audience he obviously knew to be combative. Fears of an Owain Glyndwr-style stooshie were soon eased, though.

Lisa Stevens (Labour) and Evan Price (Conservative) were on the back foot with this audience from the start. Ms Stevens in particular, having to answer for Gordon Brown over the Heathrow expansion and MPs expenses, among other things, was defending the indefensible. Mr Price was articulate, as befits a lawyer; he advanced his arguments clearly and without trimming, but it was a hard line he was promoting.

Our lead candidate, Alan Butt Philip clearly knew his stuff and representing a party long associated with the green agenda had a head-start on all but Plaid’s representative. He was also able to rebut a question citing Kirklees council as better than Liberal Democrat authorities because it was run by Greens, by pointing out that he knew that Kirklees was run by a Liberal Democrat/Green coalition because the leader was a friend of his! I must confess that Jill Evans of Plaid Cymru probably shaded the decision if points were being awarded on the night, if only by virtue of being the only sitting member and thus able to point to green initiatives she had been able to take in the European Parliament.

Thanks to Peter Jones (RSPB) for organising the event.

This was the third hustings in the current Welsh Euro campaign. The pace now picks up, and there will be virtually one hustings event per day.

The next chance locally to meet the candidates will be at Swansea Guildhall next Tuesday, 19th May, at 19:00, in an event organised by the  Committee of the European Movement. There is also a session next week at the Hay Festival.

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