Colchester Pensioner's Action Group quiz candidates ahead of next month's General Election

All five candidates battling for the Colchester seat – Will Quince (Con), Sir Bob Russell (Lib Dem), Mark Goacher (Green), Robin Rennie (Christian Peoples Alliance) and Tim Young (Lab) – were welcomed to Cardinal Bourne Hall for the hustings hosted by the Colchester Pensioners’ Action Group.

Funding for social care was amongst the biggest topics in the light of Conservative plans to change how care is paid for.

Under the new Tory plans, nobody who has assets of less than £100,000 would have to pay for care. But in the case of people being cared for in their own home, the calculation would include value of their house and if their assets are above £100,000 they will have to pay until their value reaches that cut-off point.

Mr Quince said social care was a huge issues for the country.

He said: “In the Conservative manifesto there are some popular and some not so popular plans for adult social care – this is the biggest issue facing the country.

“Social care is the responsibility of county council and it is important to get them working closely together with the NHS.

“There needs to be care closer to home and the vast majority of people would prefer to stay in their own home where possible.”

Sir Bob said: “The Government has cut the funding to Essex County Council which has seen them have to make some draconian changes.

“All sides need to work together collaboratively.”

Mr Goacher called for one organisation to be in charge of social care.

He said: “It is not joined up and needs more funding which I would provide through taxation even though it may not be popular.

“It is also about the quality, people find they are being seen by a health professional for 15 minutes and then have to whizz round to somebody else – we need a better system.”

Mr Rennie said: “The funding gap for social care is scary.

“I want to see a closer working relationship between social care and health care.”

Mr Young said: “Labour would repeal the Health and Social Care act - it is a disgraceful piece of legislation.

“We will increase taxes to the highest earners - the top five per cent - those earning £80,000 and get them to bear more burden and increase corporation tax for companies who have taken this country for fools.”

Mr Young said the Conservative manifesto had seen Theresa May take pensioners voters for granted and promised Labour would look after older people.

Mr Quince said he was standing on the back of his record of action since he was elected two years ago and told the crowd he had a voice which was listened to at the hear of Government.

Sir Bob said he would help represent people of pensionable age in Parliament.

He said: “The one section of British people who are under represented in Parliament and that is our generation.

“I think I have the life experience and the experience of Colchester which I can make count.”

Mr Goacher reminded the crowd they were voting for a local MP as well as on national issues.

He said: “You need someone who will get things done for Colchester and will challenged the Government for funding for the NHS and stand up to the local councils on planning issues.

“The Green party is also the only party which has the environment at the core of what we do.”

Mr Rennie said his party was based on Christian values and he would lobby to get more children into jobs via vocational subjects and work experience in schools.

The candidates are set to go head to head again at St Botolph’s Church on Tuesday night from 7.30pm at a hustings organised by the Seeking God’s Blessing for Colchester church group.

Entry is free.

• STOPPING weapons being sold to repressive regimes was another topic brought up by the audience.

Concerns were raised about arms being sold to Saudi Arabia by Britain being used in attacks on Yemen.

Mr Young said: “Jeremy Corbyn has clearly said there will be no sale of arms to repressive regimes under him.

“That will stop under Labour.”

Mr Rennie echoed the sentiment saying selling guns to Saudi Arabia was “absolutely ridiculous”.

Mr Goacher said he would lobby on the issue.

He said: “We need to bear in mind with Brexit some countries will use it to to negotiate bi-lateral trade deals with some of the most repressive regimes in the world.

“I want to stand up to that.”

Sir Bob said: “We should not be selling arms to countries using them in the way Saudi Arabia are.

“The problem is sometimes if you sell arms to one country they will then sell them on - it is a problem which has never been dealt with.”

Mr Quince said: “The Yemen situation is terrible but we have had assurances arms sold to Saudi Arabia are not being used in Yemen.

“The selling has been going on for decades and hundreds of thousands of jobs in the his country rely on the weapons industry.”

All candidates also backed money being spent on foreign aid to help poorer countries.

Mr Young said: “We are the fifth richest country in the world - if we cannot help other countries then shame on us.

“We should be reaching out and helping them.”

Mr Goacher said it was in Britain’s interest to spend money to try and tackle extremism and boost relationships with recovering economies.

Mr Quince said it was crucial money was spent well.

He said: “Every penny has to be justified.

“I support all the candidates on their views - we have to help out but we also have to be accountable with spending.”