show up for

question time

THE Labour candidate in Warrington North has defended herself after she did not attend a church-led question time at the weekend.

Two sessions were held for the candidates from the three main parties - one in Warrington North and the other in Warrington South.

And, while all the candidates were on show at St Philip's Church in Westbrook for the Warrington South debate, Helen Jones was absent from the Warrington North debate at St John's URC in Wilderspool.

A spokesman from her campaign team said: "The invitation came after the parliamentary office closed down so, by the time we heard about it, Helen had already booked two other engagements.

"We spoke to the curate organising the event and she said that she fully understood our reasons for not being able to attend."

Meanwhile the UK Independence candidate Gerald Kelley has hit out after he was told he could not appear in the panel for the event.

Mr Kelley was allowed to sit in the audience (an offer he turned down) but was scathing of the event.

He added: "I do not agree that there should be any second class candidates.

"In a democratic election all candidates or none should be allowed to take part."