Six things we learnt from the Stoke-on-Trent South debate

Jack Brereton, Dr Allison Gardner, Michael Bailey went head to head

General election candidates in Stoke-on-Trent South have gone up against one another in a live debate hosted by BBC Radio Stoke.

Three of the area’s seven candidates discussed a range of topics from the NHS to the rising cost of living crisis as well as local issues including the use of synthetic drug monkey dust and plans for the reopening of the Stoke to Leek rail line.

Boundary changes in the seat mean that more rural areas will now be a part of Stoke-on-Trent South, and most of Fenton will go into the Stoke-on-Trent Central.

With voters set to take to the polls on Thursday 4 July, the candidates standing in the constituency are: Jack Brereton (Conservative), Dr Allison Gardner (Labour), Alec Sandiford (Liberal Democrats), Michael Bailey (Reform UK), Peggy Wiseman (Green), Carla Parrish (Independent) and Asif Mehmood (Independent).

Here are some of the key takeaways from the conversation, which you can also watch on iPlayer here.

How they'll help struggling families

With the city labelled as the “fuel-poverty capital of England”, Labour's Alison Gardener opened the cost of living crisis conversation with a pledge to bring utility bills down and create jobs with the introduction of Great British Energy.

Lee Blakeman, who presented the debate, questioned how long this would take which Ms Gardner would not be drawn on.

She said there is “no magic wand” but added it is at the top of the party’s six priorities.

She also mentioned plans to offer a “stable economy” and joked that “if you want to look at the back of the Labour Party manifesto if you’re struggling to go to sleep, all the costings are there”.

Jack Brereton, who was elected in Stoke-on-Trent South in 2017, accepted responsibility for the challenges the country has faced in recent years and honed in on improvements made in educational standards.

The debate hosted by BBC Radio Stoke was held at the Bethel Church in Longton

Mr Brereton outlined the party’s plans to further reduce National Insurance contributions and “continue to reduce tax burdens”.

Lee Blakeman questioned whether the party was “tidying up its own mess after the last 14 years” – to which Mr Brereton replied “absolutely not”.

Reform UK's Michael Bailey told the panel that the party proposes to reduce the lower tax threshold to £20,000 to “put £1,500 into people’s pockets each year” and cut energy duties.

To make savings, the candidate says Reform plans to cut overseas aid and get rid of interest payments on quantitative easing loans.

Rwanda Bill blasted as 'absolute farce'

The Labour and Conservative candidates locked horns on immigration, an issue which regularly comes up with voters in Stoke.

Mr Brereton told the panel that the Conservatives plan to control immigration by introducing a legal migration cap and enacting the Rwanda plan to “put deterrence in place”.

He said the party has admitted “numbers have got out of control”.

In response, Ms Gardener of Labour said the Rwanda Bill was an “absolute farce, a gimmick and a waste of money”.

In its place the party proposes to scrap the scheme and instead invest in “a proper border security command” to tackle smuggling gangs – which Mr Brereton claims “already exists”.

If elected, within the first 100 days Reform UK proposes to freeze non-essential immigration, Mr Bailey, who supported the Brexit Party, said.

A plan to legalise drugs?

The Labour candidate told the panel that the party plans to bring more neighbourhood police to the streets to help tackle the city’s drug problem.

Ms Gardener also promised to introduce young futures youth hubs.

Jack Brereton said he is campaigning for monkey dust to be reclassified as a Class A drug due to it being “too easily available”.

Reform UK proposes “firmer” policing and imposing life sentences in prison for offenders who are convicted for drug offences.

Micheal Bailey said he personally “would like to see drugs legalised” to educate children about the damages they can cause.

Can private care vouchers save the NHS?

When quizzed on how to save the NHS, the Conservatives have promised to deliver more community-based and preventative healthcare, Jack Brereton said.

To reduce pressure on NHS services at the Royal Stoke Hospital, the party plans to introduce a community hub in Longton and community diagnostic facilities.

Addressing the recent strikes, the Tory candidate told the panel that junior doctors deserve a pay rise but added that a 35% rise was “unaffordable”.

Michael Bailey of Reform UK believes the government's involvement in the running of the NHS needs to be removed.

He proposed using not-for-profit providers and issuing vouchers so patients can have private healthcare funded by the NHS to reduce waiting lists.

Labour’s Allison Gardener promises to improve working conditions for staff, end the 08:00 GP scramble and allow community pharmacies to be able to prescribe medication.

The candidates discussed their party's plans to improve the NHS

Potholes and public transport pledges

The candidates were quizzed on how they plan to increase the quality of life in Stoke-on-Trent amid issues with homelessness, empty shops, slow public transport and potholes.

On the topic of the city council’s recent financial struggles, the Labour candidate promised a “sustained and sensible” funding programme and to devolve more power to local authority.

Stoke-on-Trent city council, which was taken over by Labour in 2023, has raised council tax and housing rent and implemented cuts to attempt to plug a funding gap.

Mr Brereton questioned Ms Gardner on where the extra funding would come from.

Mr Bailey said Reform UK plans to focus on abolishing rates on the high street to support small businesses and introduce a 4% online delivery tax.

Mr Brereton said the £419m released from the scrappage of the northern HS2 leg will be used to fix the city’s roads and improve local transport.

One final issue caused a (lo) commotion...

Mr Brereton defended his campaign reopen Meir train station – despite Blythe Bridge and Longton stations operating close by.

He also clashed with Ms Gardner on the issue of the Stoke to Leek rail line reopening.

Ms Gardner told him it was “very naughty to pretend and fool the people”, referencing a photo of Mr Brereton posted on Facebook about work starting on the reopening of the line.

Both candidates claimed to have spoken to Network Rail about the plans.