KJK standing for Bristol Central

[Sausagenbacon]

I'm delighted- someone to vote for !

all candidates must be invited.

Yes I know that. But what I dont know is why all the candidates thought this was an important hustings, but not others.

Does Bristol 24/7 have a lot of influence in the city?

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/trans-rights-activists-protest-against-kellie-jay-keen-outside-hustings/

I live over in Bath, so pay a moderate amount of attention to Bristol news.

The main local paper, the Bristol Post, is now owned by Reach plc (like the one in Bath). The paper is a shadow of its former self, with few (any?) journalists based locally. It is mainly puff pieces/advertorials.

Bristol 24/7 is a community interest co, with a heavy social media presence and website. There is a free paper (though I've never seen it).
It does seem to take an interest in what's going on in Bristol and reports news in a timely manner.

The Reform guy was generally crackers throughout. In his opening statement he declared climate change a myth (got laughed at by the audience and Carla Denyer's face was a picture). He was a bit twitchy and fidgety and to be honest I thought he didn't look entirely well.

Was suprised to see them all there (only Thangham and Carla had confirmed initially). Didn't think Bristol 24/7 had huge amounts of sway but the Beacon is one of our more famous venues. Perhaps the location (and likely crowds) is what drew some of the candidates in. I had wanted to see more of a head-to-head with Carla and Thangham as they are the two main contenders but actually it was quite interesting to hear from them all.

Carla Denyer and Thangam Debonnaire are in a tight race to be elected so both of them need every vote they can get and not attending hustings wouldn't be a good look. I watched it to see how that debate went down. Think Thangam did a better job but it looks like Denyer has more backing locally.
The other 4 have nothing to lose and know it would get coverage because of the closeness of the race and the fact one candidate is the Green Co leader and one is a cabinet minister.

There are clips of the hustings online specifically the Lib Dem (he says he is a gay man), suggesting he can’t tell the difference between a man and a woman without asking. He does use the word ‘gender’ (because we all know it adds that bit of confusion into the mix) but it’s so obvious that he’s talking nonsense.

I see from that article the Bristol LWS has been cancelled. Shame.

I was expecting the room to be packed full of greens as someone told me that 24/7 lean Green. But actually Labour seemed to get at least as much applause (possibly more) than the Greens so I was pleasantly surprised.

That's not what he said. He said as a gay man he's not the right person to define woman.
He was funny actually and at least he grasped the nettle. The rest of the panel studiously ignored it (apart from crazy Reform dude saying "well done" after her closing speeches)

KJK had a pop at the Greens, Labour and Lib Dems. He was the only one who directly addressed her on it (the other two just stayed silent on the issue). He was fully on board with gender but did make me laugh when he said "As a gay man, I'm the last person to know what a woman is"

turbo I've just got your username! Nice one

A few years ago I lived quite close to it

I thought Thangam Debonnair was consistently getting the most applause of anyone. It seemed a bit muted for Denyer.

As a gay man, I'm the last person to know what a woman is"

I bet he knows what a man is, though.

I hate, hate, hate celebrity political endorsements no matter which party they're for and find them a massive turn off 😡

In case anybody did want to catch the hustings there is a Youtube video of the event half-way down the article (fast forward as nothing happens for the first 22 minutes) https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/from-gaza-to-culture-funding-bristol-central-candidates-take-part-in-bristol24-7-hustings/

the Beacon is one of our more famous venues

Even more famous under its previous name! 😛

Ah me too! A bit too close by TBH but I am very fond of the Banksy as a result

Anyone who wants a laugh should watch the Reform candidates closing speech

A man who fancies men by default knows what a woman is. I cannot believe how idiotic the world has become.

Exactly. How does he know he's gay if he doesn't know the difference between men and women?

What he also said was that he didn’t want rules to define who is a woman and who is a man, and then goes on about what matters is that many women are terrified about violence against women and girls. It makes zero sense, if according to him there is no definition of who these 2 groups are - It’s getting me confused just trying to write this down.

He's a bit nice but dim, that's how I perceived him.

He refused to say who it was that was violent against women and girls though. KJK asks him who and he replies with 'could be anyone'.

Luckily he has less than zero chance of being elected. Plus he couldn't say "men" or it would beg an immediate follow up.

I disagree with what he said but he was the only one brave enough to engage in KJKs points head on, so kudos to him for that.