People have expressed anger over the failure of Thanet South MP Laura Sandys to appear at a special Thanet Question Time meeting held last Friday (November 8) in Broadstairs.
Ms Sandys had agreed to be on the panel of Thanet Question Time several weeks ago, but cried off the day before the meeting was due to go ahead.
She emailed an apology for her non-appearance, citing parliamentary business and the need to see an unnamed potential investor in Thanet.
Will Scobie, her Labour challenger at the next election, did appear and the meeting went ahead.
But audience member Filiz MacNamara said: “I am furious Laura Sandys didn’t appear. She is our MP. This was a great opportunity to see her in debate with her Labour rival. She should have been there. Is she afraid of Scobie or something?”
One of the meeting’s organisers, Christine Tongue, said: “I’m very disappointed Laura didn’t come, especially as we held the meeting on a date agreed some weeks ago with her.
“But she has said she will come to a future meeting and I hope she will hold to her word. These sorts of meetings are vital to a healthy local democracy.”
The meeting, which concentrated on environmental issues in Thanet, was very well attended. Topics discussed included over-building, Manston Airport and the controversy over the Ramsgate’s Royal Pavilion.
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