BEFORE UKIP’s debate on immigration in Thurrock tonight, Labour candidate for Thurrock, Polly Billington has gone on the record to why she will not be attending tonight.
Ms Billington said:
"I’m more than happy to talk about immigration. What I’m not happy to do is to engage in a debate that was only set on Tim’s terms. Conventionally, in a sensible political debate, these events are neutrally organised with an unbiased chairperson. They usually invite all of the candidates, and cover a range of issues and allow voters to make up their own minds about the candidates. I made this clear to Tim, he refused to listen which is why I will not be attending tonight.
"Immigration is in important issue for me and people in Thurrock. I am fully committed to frank discussions on immigration. I have been having these discussions for the last three years and will continue to do so throughout this campaign. I held a public meeting last week where we spoke openly about the challenges and benefits of immigration and what the Labour party would do in government.
"But immigration is not the only issue that this election is being fought on. The people I talk to day in day out on the doorstep across the constituency are also concerned about the NHS, about jobs and about the future for our children. We can’t pick and choose the problems that we will have to deal with as MPs, so nor should we chose the ones that we allow to be publicly debated. We need to talk about everything, including immigration.
"I will be debating Tim at a number legitimate hustings over the next few months. But I welcome anyone attending the UKIP event tonight to please get in touch with me to talk about immigration, or any other issues that concerns them.
