All the seats were filled for the evening, which saw the candidates grilled on their position on the NHS, education, affordable housing, EU membership, the living wage, and food banks.

Dr Phillip Lee Part-time GP Phillip Lee, the Conservative candidate fighting to retain his seat, spoke about the Conservative pledge to pay for 5,000 more GPs. He batted away claims that he favours charging for some NHS treatments, saying he ‘raises the questions’ about funding the service but does not advocate any one policy. On Europe, Dr Lee frankly stated the need for a renegotiation of Britain’s membership, saying he would vote to leave the union if a renegotiation failed and went on to emphasise his resistance against greater state intervention, saying the market should control things such as wages.

In his closing remarks he said: “When we go to the polls it comes down to our values – we have to consider if we want to live in a country where success is demonised or where it is applauded.” James Walsh Labour candidate James Walsh emphasised his belief that this election is the ‘most important in a generation’ and pointed to Labour’s promise to pay for a further 8,000 GPs with money raised through the ‘mansion tax’ on homes worth more than £2million.

Mr Walsh said he supported the principle of a living wage but said that the economy needed to grow before it could be implemented. He said: “We would like to say yes but we need to do it when the economy is in a healthy state.” He also restated Labour’s commitment to two per cent of GDP being spent on defence and condemned the increased use of food banks. He said: “We need to tackle the cost of living problem. We need to stop reliance on food banks. They show us for the good in Bracknell but we can do better.” Patrick Smith Patrick Smith, the Liberal Democrat candidate, urged people to vote ‘compassionately’ in the ballot box. He said: “Vote for what Jesus died for, not what you get for yourself but what you can do for others, for the vulnerable, the sick, the disabled. When we go to the voting station, go there with a compassionate heart.” He confirmed the Liberal Democrats would ‘find the money’ to pay for a health service and expressed regret for increasing tuition fees while in government.

He also said a living wage would not be possible to implement until the economy is stronger. He said: “I think it’s a difficult question but we need to secure economic recovery.” On the increased use of food banks Mr Smith said the rise was ‘exponential’ and something needed to be done to tackle benefit delays and late payments.

Richard Thomas Crowthorne resident Richard Thomas attended to fight his position as Ukip candidate.

On health, he emphasised the need for the NHS to be fully funded and said he would fight for any proposed ‘super hospital’ to be built in Bracknell, saving local people from travelling miles for treatment.

He also affirmed his position against more privatisation in the NHS due to the expected cost of monitoring the different organisations involved. One of his key pledges was to reduce foreign aid by £10million. He said: “We must help out in times of need but the funds sent to the likes of India to support their space programme will go.” In his closing statement, he stated his confidence in Ukip’s chances and said: “This time last year there was an election, and this was a European election. But last year the Conservative Party lost and they lost to Ukip. If they lose again they will lose to a Ukip candidate.” Derek Florey The Green Party candidate who sadly had to leave the hustings early due to illness, outlined the party policy against austerity, emphasising the need to spend more in order to get the economy back on track. He said: “I decided to stand for the Green party because I believe that austerity has failed.

“We have a situation where the top one per cent has the same wealth as the bottom 50 per cent. The Green party would invest, invest in people’s future, invest in jobs.