AN equalities-themed General Election hustings will put the policies of candidates in the Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath constituency to the test and the local community are being invited to take part.

Fife-based equalities groups, Pink Saltire and Fife Centre for Equalities, are teaming up to organise the event, to be held in Kirkcaldy on December 3.

They hope to scrutinise the policies of the 6 candidates competing for votes in the district, including the impact on the disabled, ethnic minorities and the LGBT+ community.

The hustings will be chaired by Cowdenbeath man Stuart Duffy, Founder of Pink Saltire, who also took the helm at the 2017 hustings event held in Cowdenbeath.

He told us: “I’m looking forward to seeing all the candidates appear and I think it could be a lively debate! We know people from minority communities can often be isolated so it’s really important that these opportunities exist to question the folk who want to represent us in Parliament.”

He added: “Policies on Brexit, Scottish Independence, the welfare system, supporting people into work, migration and human rights are all things that will be at the forefront of people’s mind when they come to vote on December 12, so this hustings will be a chance to hear first hand how the candidates will stand up for people in this area.”

Fife Centre for Equalities held a similar equalities hustings during the 2017 snap election and found that the performance of candidates on the night had an impact on voter intention.

Manager, Nina Munday, said: “Fife Centre for Equalities is pleased to be working with Pink Saltire to organise this Equality Hustings.

"This event will allow the public to highlight some of their concerns relating to equality to the candidates before they cast their votes on 12th December. We encourage all Fifers to take part.”

All 6 candidates for the Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath seat have been invited to take part. They are, Gillian Cole-Hamilton – Liberal Democrats; Kathleen Leslie – Conservative & Unionist Party; Lesley Laird – Scottish Labour Party; Mitch William – The Brexit Party; Neale Hanvey – Scottish National Party; and Scott Rutherford – Scottish Green Party

The event will be open to the public from 5.30pm on Tuesday 3rd December at New Volunteer House, 16 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, with light refreshments served before the hustings begins at 6pm.

The event is free to attend although registration is preferred via the Facebook page of either Pink Saltire or Fife Centre for Equalities, or by searching EventBrite.co.uk for “Equality Hustings”.