Michael Lavalette, standing as an independent in the Preston constituency, made the comments during a general election hustings debate staged by the Lancashire Post, Lancashire Lead and Blog Preston.<br /><br />Six out of the ten people on the ballot on 4th July took part in the event:<br /><br />DAVID BROOKS (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom)<br />NEIL DARBY (Liberal Democrats)<br />TREVOR HART (Conservative Party) <br />SIR MARK HENDRICK (Labour and Co-Operative Party)<br />MICHAEL LAVALETTE (Independent)<br />JOSEPH O’MEACHAIR (Rejoin EU)<br /><br />The other four candidates sent their apologies. They are:<br /><br />YOUSUF BHAILOK (Independent) <br />JAMES ELLIOT (Reform UK)<br />DEREK KILLEEN (UKIP)<br />ISABELLA METCALF-RIENER (Green Party) <br /><br />
