Manchester and Warrington Quakers quiz candidates
An Area Meeting has sent questions to local parliamentary candidates
The Social Justice Group of Manchester and Warrington Area Meeting has sent questions to local parliamentary candidates.
The nine questions focused on peace, the environment, social justice and the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). They included ‘Are you in favour of Britain renewing its Trident nuclear weapons system?’ and ‘Do you think our economy can or should go on growing indefinitely?’
Not all candidates responded, but Elizabeth Coleman, of the Social Justice Group, told the Friend that answers had been submitted by candidates from both mainstream and smaller parties. These included representatives of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Communist, Green and Pirate parties. UKIP and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) also submitted responses.
‘Many of the replies are predict-able, but there is interesting thinking by candidates of all parties on TTIP and the feasibility of non-stop economic growth,’ Elizabeth said.
She added that replies to some of the questions were relatively simple and clear. This was the case with Trident, where two candidates supported it wholeheartedly, some supported it with reservations and most opposed it. Other responses, however, were more complicated, including those on how to tackle fuel poverty and Britain’s involvement in the Ukraine.
Elizabeth added: ‘I was particularly interested in the responses to our question about TTIP… Last year Chris Diskin of the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) visited Manchester, and spoke about TTIP. He was particularly concerned about ISDS (investor-state dispute settlement). This gives provision for private companies to sue governments in secret courts if a government passed legislation that affected their profitability. Most of the replies from all political parties either opposed TTIP or were concerned about the detail. One candidate said she was not convinced of the need for ISDS’.
