ORGANISERS of election hustings for the fiercely-contested Poplar & Limehouse seat have praised the behaviour of candidates at the meeting just hours after former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was jostled on his walkabout nearby

By Keir Mudie

ORGANISERS of election hustings for the fiercely-contested Poplar & Limehouse seat have praised the behaviour of candidates at the meeting just hours after former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was jostled on his walkabout nearby.

Six election hopefuls spoke at Poplar’s Lansbury Lodge community centre organised by East London’s Christian leaders.

Police were present outside in case of trouble during Thursday night’s meeting, after the Prescott incident just a-quarter-of-a-mile away. But the hustings meeting ran peacefully.

Stuart Cathrow, pastor at Quaystone Church, told the East London Advertiser: “We got through controversial topics from housing and poverty to faith issues and abortion.

“There was some good-natured banter, but it was great to see them getting on.”

He added: “It was a good result, despite clashing with a televised Prime Ministers’ debate.”

Taking part in the hustings were Tim Archer (Con), Jim Fitzpatrick (Lab), Jonathan Fryer (Lib Dem), George Galloway (Respect), Andrew Osborne (Eng Dem) and Jim Thornton (ind).

Only hours before, Labour’s John Prescott was caught up in the incident during his election walkabout at Poplar’s Chrisp Street Market nearby, involving Tory supporters.