Seven takeaways from BBC Kent's election debate

The candidates answered questions on subjects including small boat crossings and the NHS

With just days to go until we know the result of the general election, this was one of the final chances for all of the main parties to connect with voters.

Chaired by BBC Kent's political reporter, Michael Keohan, the debate was sparky and all parties exchanged, at times, frank views on what must come next.

The lively debate took on subjects of small boat crossings, the NHS and how to rebuild trust in politicians, all of which were questions sent to us for Your Voice, Your Vote.

So what did we learn? Here are seven takeaways from the debate, which you can watch on iPlayer here.

1. No party can agree on one way to stop the small boats

Although all parties agreed they wanted to see an end to small boats crossing the English Channel, they all differed on how they would stop the crossings.

For the Conservatives, Rwanda remains the real option for them if they retain power at the election. Damian Collins for the Conservatives warned "without Rwanda we won't stop the boats".

Labour would set up a command centre and aim to work closer with whatever French government follows their election. Polly Billington for Labour said: "We need more safe routes and we need to speed up the processing of those who get here."

The Green Party also wants to see safe routes from places like France established, Stuart Jeffery for the Greens said: "We need a reception centre in France and safe routes from there."

Howard Cox for Reform UK said they would take migrants crossing the Channel back to France. "Rwanda won't work, only taking them back to France is the answer," he said.

2. No simple prescription to fix the NHS

Matt in Ashford asked our panel through the Your Voice, Your Vote questions what they would do to stop his family having to "wait weeks" to get an appointment, and how, if they were elected, they would fix the NHS.

Polly Billington for Labour told the Conservatives that "they need to take some responsibility for the state of the NHS".

She told the debate: "Money isn't enough on its own, we also need to reform the NHS."

Firing back, Damian Collins for the Conservatives, said: "The NHS budget has gone up more than any other sector, as £4 in every £10 we spend is in the NHS."

Mike Martin for the Liberal Democrats told the panel his local doctors' surgery in Tunbridge Wells has "19,000 patients." He said the Lib Dems would pledge "a much more prevention focus for the NHS".

Stuart Jeffery for the Green Party who, before politics, had a career in NHS management, said: "We need more on-the-day appointments. It's easy and can be done."

3. Have Labour already won the election?

Only Labour and the Conservatives believe the election result is not already a matter of fact.

Stuart Jeffery for the Green Party told the panel the "Tories are toast".

Damian Collins for the Conservatives said anyone who thought the election was already decided was "disrespectful to voters".

Polly Billington warned: "The discussion about polls mean people now think this election is a forgone conclusion."

Interestingly, it was one of the only points in the debate that agreement broke out between Labour and the Conservatives.

A moment of humour during the debate saw candidates talk about their go-to quick meals

4. The panel's 'field of wheat moment'

In any election debate there is always room for a bit of levity, and that came in the form of a left-field question, which asked the candidates what they would cook on a Monday night if short of time.

Damian Collins for the Conservatives said his go-to quick-fire dish was "a rotisserie chicken and salad".

While admitting to being true to brand, the Green's candidate Stuart Jeffery said his had to be a "veggie sausage and chips in the oven".

Polly Billington for Labour said: "Scrambled egg on toast" was something she looks forward to.

Mike Martin for the Lib Dems admitted his dish was very Tunbridge Wells, cooking up "tomato basil pasta" because of its ease.

Howard Cox of Reform UK said his go-to dish on a Monday would involve his air fryer.

"I chuck a cauliflower cheese in there and it takes five minutes," he said.

5. Help with the cost of living might not be immediate

All parties agreed more could, and should, be done to help people with the cost of living crisis.

However, quick fixes on how to help people have more money were short on the ground.

Mike Martin said the Lib Dems would look at post-Brexit checks.

He said: "We were promised frictionless trade after Brexit and that has put up prices in our supermarkets."

Damian Collins for the Conservatives said their record on the economy should not just be judged on the last four years. He told the panel that situations "like the war in Ukraine or the pandemic" had made a big difference to the government’s ability to control inflation.

He added: "Look at what we've done on fuel duty to keep that down and help families."

Polly Billington for Labour said they would help people struggling with the cost of living crisis by setting up a national "GB Energy" scheme, which is Labour's plan to produce our own energy to prevent fluctuations in energy prices.

Reform UK's candidate, Howard Cox, however, took aim at all candidates, saying he had been a Conservative voter for over 50 years, but could not vote for them anymore due to the rise in taxes. He said Reform would help by "putting up the tax band to £20,000 and taking the VAT of energy bills".

6. How do you rebuild trust in politicians after the election?

Nicola in Rainham asked: "Are all politicians the same and will my vote change anything?"

This question was one of the most asked through Your Voice, Your Vote. with many people asking about trust, or respect in politics.

Mike Martin of the Lib Dems responded to Nicola by saying it's "quite easy to do".

"You tell the truth, you obey the law, you be humble and don't seek to be above those you represent and you must also seek to unite rather than divide," Mr Martin said.

The Labour candidate for East Thanet, Polly Billington, said: “You ask people for their trust to make decisions on their behalf, the country is so broken, and it's important you don’t promise too much.”

On Boris Johnson and "partygate", Damian Collins for the Conservatives said: "It was wrong and we do have to look at the way we run our own house."

Looking to the future, Mr Collins said: "We have to stop making promises we can't deliver because it makes people feel better."

In one of the most emotional moments of the debate, Green candidate Stuart Jeffery, who worked in the NHS during the pandemic, recalled: "I was working in the NHS and seeing my colleagues die, it {partygate] is something I will never forgive and it cut to my craw."

7. Other parties and independents are available

The BBC Kent Your Voice, Your Vote debate included the five biggest parties who are likely to receive the most support at the general election, but there are others to choose from.

Many of the 18 constituencies in Kent will have other parties on the ballot paper too, as well as a dozen or so independent candidates.

You can find a full list of candidates for all constituencies on the BBC News website.

• Poll tracker: How do the parties compare?

• Voting: Who can I vote for in the general election?

• General election 2024: All BBC stories and analysis

• Your Voice, Your Vote: Tell us the issues that matter to you