As the General Election nears, all seven candidates in St Albans faced off at a hustings last week, seeking to convince voters why they should represent them in Parliament.

The hustings took place at St Albans Cathedral and was attended by more than 300 people.

The Herts Ad watched the hustings so you don't have to, and is rounding up the key takeaways from the night.

The candidates are: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat, MP for St Albans in the last Parliament), Sophia Adams Bhatti (Labour), James Spencer (Conservative), Simon Grover (Green), John Dowdle (Reform UK), Stewart Satterly (Social Democratic Party) and Dafydd Morriss (Heritage Party).

Housing is key

The Green Belt has become a key housing battleground, with opinion split over whether it should be built on amid the housing crisi.

Mr Spencer is vehemently against the idea, with the Tory candidate saying he would "die in a ditch" to oppose any planning applications involving the Green Belt.

Ms Cooper lamented a planning system that gives St Albans 'the worst of all worlds' , pledging to give the local authority more powers to boost housebuilding.

Labour's Sophia Adams Bhatti stated that "everyone deserves a home", but vowed this won't come at the cost of the environment - despite Labour's plans to build on Green Belt land. 

Mr Dowdle called the Lib Dem plans 'crazy' and blamed immigration for the 'strain' put on housing.

The NHS

The NHS and mental health provision were also under the spotlight.

Mr Spencer clashed with a voter who questioned whether he can be trusted after the Tories failed on their pledge to deliver 40 new hospitals in the last Parliament.

The Conservative described it as "ridiculous" that St Albans residents have to go to Watford or Hemel Hempstead to access A and E services.

Ms Cooper wants to see GP's on every high street.

Mr Dowdle pointed to his experience as a councillor lobbying against plans to close hospitals including the one in St Albans.

Ms Adams Bhatti described Labour as "the party of the NHS" and promised to 'fix' it.

Environment

The most cross-party agreement came on climate, with the Tory candidate calling for cross-party collaboration.

Several of the candidates highlighted the issue of raw sewage in rivers as one they'd tackle.

Mr Dowdle and Mr Morriss however were dissenters, with the Heritage candidate claiming that there is no climate emergency.

Read more:

 • What are the polls in Herts saying ahead of General Election 2024?

 • Election 2024: St Albans candidates in their own words

 • General Election candidates respond to sewage in River Ver

Education

Ms Cooper spoke passionately about SEN provision, pointing out the shame of Hertfordshire receiving the worst possible rating on the issue.

Ms Adams Bhatti pointed to her experiences as a state school governor, saying that education is "on it's knees".

Mr Grover called for the abolishment of Ofsted, while Mr Morriss called for a return to the education of years past.

Mr Spencer made the only clear political attack of the night, branding Labour's policy on private schools as part of a "vindictive class war".

You can watch the full hustings here.