Key issues answered in Lincoln election debate

The debate featured five of the candidates standing in Lincoln

Five of the general election candidates representing the Lincoln constituency have answered questions from the public during a debate.

Broadcast by BBC Radio Lincolnshire and held in the historic Chapter House, it was hosted by BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire political editor Tim Iredale.

Conservative Karl McCartney, Labour's Hamish Falconer, Green's Sally Horscroft, Reform UK's Jamie-Lee McMillan and Liberal Democrat's Clare Smalley went up against one another.

Below are some of their answers to key topics put forward during the live stream by members of the public, which you can watch here.

What does your party plan to do with the NHS?

John Mitchell asked the question, stating that money is "poured into the NHS each year" but the service becomes "worse and worse each year".

Karl McCartney said the NHS "needs to be better managed" and that he is "in touch" with health officials in the county.

Hamish Falconer said under Labour, it would take them "five years at least" to start getting waiting lists down by "investing in 40,000 new appointments each week".

Jamie-Lee McMillan said Reform UK would "remove a lot of the money being spent on the backroom staff" and "funnel it into frontline".

Clare Smalley said Liberal Democrats would make "urgent GP appointments available within 24 hours" and Sally Horscroft said the NHS has been "understaffed for several years" and they need to "better fund GP surgeries".

The debate was hosted by BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire political editor Tim Iredale

What's the answer on immigration?

Ian Newbold, 51, asked the question, stating that "thousands of people" coming into the UK are "placing more strain on housing, health, education and welfare".

Jamie-Lee McMillan said "anyone who has come here illegally should not be allowed to stay".

Clare Smalley said the country is "relying on migrants to plug the gaps" and we need to be "processing people quicker" to ensure people aren't "left for months on end".

Sally Horscroft said "we need migrant workers" in the country, stating that some sectors are "crying out for workers".

Hamish Falconer said Labour thinks it is "not sensible to set numbers" but it does think "net migration is too high and needs to come down".

Karl McCartney said immigration is an "issue that bothers a lot of people" and it needs to "get through" the Rwanda asylum plan.

In terms of housing asylum seekers at RAF Scampton, Mr McCartney said the "one bonus" is there is a "ready-made runway there where you can get a plane that would fly off to Rwanda with some of them on board".

What's your stance on taxation?

Andy Roberts, 48, asked the question, and stated that "the tax burden is continuously rising, and we face tough choices moving forward".

Karl McCartney said he wants to see taxes "as low as possible" and they have already been "coming down" under Conservatives.

Hamish Falconer said Labour is "committed" and "really clear" in not "raising taxes on working people".

Sally Horscroft said "too many people are on low wages" and the Green Party would introduce a "wealth tax on the very top earners" in the country.

Clare Smalley said their aim to tackle taxes would be to "raise the capital gains tax".

Jamie-Lee McMillan said they want to raise the "income-tax threshold up to £20,000 for all people".

The debate was held in the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral

Why is no one talking about the need to address the damage Brexit has caused?

Luke Wallace, 33, asked the question and stated that following Brexit, "the economy has crashed and we've lost control of our borders".

Jamie-Lee McMillan said there was "so much opportunity" with Brexit but it was "squandered".

Clare Smalley said "that campaign was led by people who were saying things that weren't true".

Sally Horscroft said she thought Brexit was a "poisoned chalice" and the Green Party would have "another referendum".

Hamish Falconer said Labour would "make the best of the new arrangements".

Karl McCartney said he believes the country has "got back its sovereignty" through Brexit.

The general election will take place at polling stations on 4 July

What are you going to do to deliver cleaner, more honest politics that people will be able to trust?

Adam Linsley asked the question and stated that there is a "huge mistrust in politicans from the general public".

Karl McCartney said "what you see is what you get with me" and that he "will be putting Lincoln first".

Hamish Falconer said he "knows people across Lincoln feel so fed-up with politics" and he will "seek to deliver change" if he was elected.

Sally Horscroft said people should "vote for people they trust" and that "actions must have consequences".

Clare Smalley said she is "here to represent the people" and "wants to see someone who cares about the area".

Jamie-Lee McMillan said there "needs to be a process where it is far easier to remove a candidate who has broken your trust".

The full list of candidates standing for the seat are:

Laura Ashby - Independent

Hamish Falconer - Labour

Sally Horscroft - Green

Craig Marshall - Social Democratic Party

Karl McCartney - Conservative

Jamie-Lee McMillan - Reform UK

Linda Richardson - Workers Party of Britain

Charles Shaw - Liberal Party

Clare Smalley - Liberal Democrat

Information about the 4 July general election and how to vote can be found here.

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