Labour "chickens out" of Ashfield hustings

12.50.56pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Apr 2010

Labour's new candidate in Ashfield has caused a storm by suddenly pulling out of four local election hustings meetings.

Gloria De Piero had previously said she would attend hustings on the BBC politics show (25th April), a chamber of commerce breakfast hustings (22nd April), a Nottingham Evening Post hustings (28th April) and Sutton-in-Ashfield churches together hustings (29th April) but has now pulled out.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Stuart Bray said

"Labour are clearly running scared in Ashfield. Geoff Hoon's antics have caused much anger locally and people feel let down."

"Gloria De Piero had pledged to be open and accessible to local people but at the first opportunity that local residents had to question her she has chickened out. She has caused a storm in last weeks national press by refusing to talk to the media too. With her background as a London TV presenter surely she is not camera shy? What has she got to hide?

"We can only presume that she is afraid that her lack of record of action for Ashfield people will be exposed at these public meetings. Jason Zadrozny has a record of action in this area. He will be only too happy to debate with Miss De Piero at any local hustings meetings."