The Lancashire Post, Lancashire Lead, Blog Preston and the Local Democracy Reporting Service invited all 10 candidates standing for the Preston constituency at next month's poll to a debate in which they fielded questions from voters. <br /><br />Topics covered ranged from the state of Preston city centre to the conflict in Gaza and from the location for a new Royal Preston Hospital to the city's housing and pothole problems. <br /><br />Six of those on the ballot took part in the event. In order of appearance from left to right on the stage, they are:<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 />Two other candidates - YOUSUF BHAILOK (Independent) and ISABELLA METCALF-RIENER (Green Party) - addressed the room via pre-recorded videos, which were played out at the start of the event. <br /><br />The two remaining candidates – JAMES ELLIOT (Reform UK) and DEREK KILLEEN (UKIP) – sent their apologies.
