Question Time - Truro & Falmouth Candidate: Charlotte Mackenzie

Over the last few days, Truro and Falmouth candidates have had the chance to answer your questions. First up, Labour representative, Dr Charlotte Mackenzie....

Q - STEVE - Can you please tell me a little more about you and your background? As a Cornish candidate, can you tell me your local credentials?

A – I will champion Cornwall at Westminster and always put my community first - I want people to vote for me partly for policy reasons and partly because I will do a better job as MP than the other candidates at this election. I live here; as it happens I can also name my family predecessors in Cornwall back to the 1580s. I'm self-employed on a freelance basis as a researcher and consultant. My career background is that I was a university senior lecturer, and then associate director of the Higher Education Funding Council and Quality Assurance Agency.

Q - SAMANTHA – Issue of parliamentary expenses. What accountability measures do you support to prevent this from happening again?

A – Deciding the expenses system is now out of the hands of MPs, which was the right thing to do. It is about responsibility as well as accountability - I personally wouldn't vote for any candidate for MP who hasn't already made their interests public. As a new MP I will publish my expenses and diary, and rent rather than buy in London. Political Parties have a role to play too - the Liberal Democrats haven't taken action against any of their MPs who were asked to repay money, the other two main Parties did.

Q - GEORGINA - What are the candidates’ views on the proposed plans to transfer cancer surgery out of Cornwall to Plymouth? Also, what is your view on nurse training at the Knowledge Spa? There are plans to switch to “exclusively degree” level training programmes, which will mean that hundreds of students will have to start travelling to Plymouth.

A – There should have been a full consultation about the proposed transfer of upper GI surgery, to weigh up the clinical case and the impact on patients and their families.

The Knowledge Spa is brilliant - it puts medical and postgraduate training facilities on the same site as the hospital. Future plans need to continue to maximise flexible opportunities to study - including using the internet - while ensuring professional standards are met.

Q - CHRIS – Obviously change is a big part of this election. Can you tell me what kind of things you plan to do differently to Matthew Taylor.

A – I want to be an MP in a Labour Government - I will be in stronger position to deliver for my local community than an opposition MP can. I will hold regular mobile village surgeries, not just an annual tour of the constituency.

Q - NATHANIAL – How do you plan to juggle countryside preservation with the need for affordable housing. It just feels like Truro is seen as 'fair game' for developers as it is seen as a city.

A – The environmental issues were aired recently in the West Briton's election coverage. Cornwall Council needs to represent community wishes and negotiate more robustly with developers - for example to ensure affordable housing expectations are not reduced.

Q - SUE – How do you find the local campaigning process? How do you tread the line between legitimately going after your opponents and outright negativity?

A – A fair fight focuses on Parties future plans, policy, and track record; it isn't about choosing national or local 'celebrities'. Local and national issues are both important. I believe in transparency and I have published my interests - as far as I know the only other candidate to have done that is the Tory.

The issue that I think most needs opened up which hasn't been is how candidates here fund their campaigns - do people think it is fair for someone to use family resources to be unemployed while volunteering full-time as a Party political candidate for three years, or donate £6,900 to their local Party's campaign? Or do both of these risk creating an unlevel playing field in Truro and Falmouth.

Q - LEWIS – What is your stance on the DNA database, ID cards in relation to defence vs civil liberties.

A – As an MP I will reflect the views of constituents in Truro and Falmouth when any Parliamentary decisions are being made about these.

Q - IAN – There is a percentage of empty shop space in Truro and Falmouth. What is your plan for dealing with this?

A – We need a more sustainable economy. Truro weathered the recession quite well - some new businesses opened. This shows that Labour's investment is strengthening Cornwall's economy. Unemployment here is below the UK average and lower than it was in the 1990s. If I'm elected I will help to bring together the investment that Falmouth docks need - the port plan will make the local economy more sustainable. Also in Truro we need to ensure any future retail development doesn't jeopardise shops in the city centre - meeting housing needs must come first.

Q - MICHAEL – Cornwall has only developed its own HE structure over the last 10 years. What is your view on student top up fees for Falmouth?

A – I will vote against any increase in fees. I support a fair system of HE funding which enables students from all backgrounds to go to university.

Q - HELEN – I recently had a family member in hospital. I have a child and work part time. Owing to the ever increasing fees, I spent around £100 on parking. When you factor in buying my mother fruit, magazines etc (and the odd coffee), it cost me around £200 pounds to see her over several weeks. What are you going to do about this?

A – The solution is for RCHT to introduce free parking as the Labour Government wants. Some visitors and staff at Treliske use the Langarth park and ride which costs £1. Also people can already qualify for free parking if they are in receipt of certain benefits - this shows it's possible to combine the Q-Park contract with free parking entitlements.

Q - LAURA – What do you expect from the final televised debate? And what is your plan for the final week of campaigning?

A – If the debates must have a "winner" I expect it to be Gordon Brown - Cameron and Clegg don't understand the economy, and it will show.

My plan for the final week of the campaign is to reach as many Labour supporters as possible. This election is important. At last year's local elections just 14 per cent of electors in Cornwall voted Tory - the other 86 per cent either stayed at home or voted for non-Tory candidates - but the Tories dominate the Council. We will only have confidence the result reflects what people want if there is a high turnout in this constituency.

What do you think of Charlotte's answers? Having covered both local and national issues, do you know anything now that you didn't know before? Has this affected your choice of vote?