This is a busy time in UK politics. With the General Election due on 4 July 2024 (Independence Day?), the final list of candidates for each constituency published at the end of last week and the party manifestoes released middle of June, there is a lot going on. Many of us want to be involved in this important event in our democracy. If, like me, you are not a member of any political party but you are interested in the process of democracy and its outcomes, i.e. people elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) to our new Parliament, then organising a hustings in your constituency may be right up your street.
What is a hustings?
A hustings is a meeting where election candidates debate policies and answer questions from the audience. The huge advantage of a locally organised hustings is that candidates are up on the stage devoid of ‘advisors’ and/or spin doctors. They have to give instantaneous answers to constituents. There is no time to discuss with colleagues what the party line is on a particular issue, seek help from party bosses or, indeed, dodge the question. In many ways candidates are live naked in front of real constituents, real people. This does not happen often and indeed a hustings is one of the few opportunities to listen to prospective candidates stripped of their party machines.
In our democracy opportunities to get real answers from would-be politicians are rare. A hustings, organised by local people in the constituency, provides an opportunity to hear what their prospective MPs really think about local issues.
How do you organise a hustings?
The best hustings arise organically in local constituencies. They need to be organised by a group who hold a diversity of political views. Hustings are not party-political events! All the local candidates should be invited no matter how unappealing they may appear to the organisers. The whole point is to provide a public platform for all views; for everyone. In this way, the event will appeal to a wide spectrum of political perspectives in your community. This is essential to generate local discussion about the candidates and the political organisations they represent.
Venue
You need a venue with a good public address (PA) system. Many halls will have a quiet evening between now and 3 July. Any hiring fees can be negotiated with the venue owners. Remember all the candidates will be willing to come to a public meeting where there will be voters about four weeks before an election. They need the platform to get their faces out there to their potential voters. An organised hustings is doing candidates a favour, not the other way round.
Chairperson
Crucial to the success of the event, the Chair/chairperson should be a politically neutral individual, committed to hearing from the candidates and to putting a wide range of questions to them in the allocated time. Allow candidates to introduce themselves and to summarise why they will make the best MP for the constituency at the end of the night. As the Chair, do not allow anyone to dominate proceedings. The Chair is the boss for the two hours or so of the meeting.
Publicity
Local media will love news of a hustings. Plenty of material to report on, a great opportunity to get some quotes from the candidates and, the more controversial the meeting, the better the copy it provides. Contact your local papers, radio stations, journalists and social media influencers. Like the candidates, they are extremely keen at this moment to get all the players in one room to hear what they have to say in response to local questions on local and national issues. Contact your local newsrooms and give them advance notice of anything you plan to do.
Why are hustings important?
In our advanced democracy, politics and news are highly managed. A hustings is an opportunity that allows ordinary citizens to question their candidates and listen to them in live debate. This is important in a democracy and is in danger of being lost in the large media debates between party leaders on TV. Local constituencies may have very different priorities than those in major cities.
So what can I do about it?
In a phrase, get organised quickly!
A hustings is best organised by a small group of people. Issue an invite to all candidates – if they don’t take up the challenge then they are missing out. You, as organisers, have done your bit to get all views into the room. Tell the local media. Be ready to do an interview about your event. Then sit back and let the candidates make of it what they will.
Remember Bob Dylan’s comment on politicians,
‘’Even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked’’
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m only bleeding)
Released 1965
Album: Bringing it all Back Home
Artist: Bob Dylan.
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