Cranbrook debate

Lively and enjoyable debate last night at the "Election Question Time" at Cranbrook School. About 250 people turned out to question the four candidates and Paul Seigert, the BBC's South East Today's Political Correspondant chaired it.

There were early pointed questions from the audience about my opposition to selective education - it was good to see that people had done some homework on me! I suspect that I didn't change their minds but I made it clear that selective education has no place in a fair society and that the overall outcomes for kids are worse than in comprehensive systems.

The question which raised the most heckles was the one on second jobs. After Chris Garland (who was standing in for Helen Grant the Tory PPC) had defended the right of MPs to have a second job, I made it absolutely clear that being an MP was full time.

A big thanks to Ben Carpenter for organising such a great event and bring on the next one!