POLITICAL debate remains alive and well after another intriguing General Election hustings in Alloa Town Hall on Thursday.

Around 130 people turned out to witness all five candidates trade blows on a variety of issues including benefit sanctions, Trident, the House of Lords and the NHS.

The event was arranged by the Alloa Community Council, with similar events being held previously in Alva and Clackmannan.

As expected, the biggest receptions came for the Labour incumbent Gordon Banks and the SNP’s Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, with the two clashing on financial issues such as full fiscal autonomy.

However, Tory candidate Luke Graham presented a stern defence of Conservative policies, while the Liberal Democrats’ Dr Iliyan Stefanov may well have won a few people over with his spirited oratory.

The event also introduced the public to UKIP’s Michael Gray who only recently announced his candidacy for the Ochil and South Perthshire seat.

After a round of opening speeches, the candidates were able to ask questions of each other, leading to some lively cross-examinations.

Dr Stefanov said his party would be focusing on increasing the budget for the NHS, while Mr Banks reiterated Labour’s policy of introducing free bus passes for modern apprenticeships while ending benefit sanction targets.

Mr Graham said his campaign would be based on supporting the economy, getting more people connected with broadband for everyone in Clacks, while raising the minimum tax threshold to £12,500.

He also said he would ‘look into’ the possibility of making the House of Lords ‘truly representative’.

And though this may well have taken some by surprise, it was swiftly followed by a pledge from Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh who said she would vote to abolish it, to a chorus of applause.

She was then questioned by Mr Banks about the Barnett Formula and the ‘black hole’ which would arise in Scotland’s finances as a result of full fiscal autonomy, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said she would fight for the Barnett Formula until they were given financial independence, and would bring full autonomy in as soon as the SNP could negotiate a settlement.

The issue of Trident reared its head on a number of occasions with Ms Ahmed-Sheikh referring to the system as ‘morally indefensible’.

Mr Graham views the defence system as a £2.8 billion annual safeguard against going to war. He described it as an investment in peace and said he would pursue disarmament in the long run.

He then took exception to a question from Ms Ahmed-Sheikh and an audience member about which city the UK would choose to bomb.

Mr Banks told the hall that he would vote against the renewal of Trident.

On welfare, Mr Banks then said he had spoken up for a number of constituents who had been sanctioned.

While, the Conservatives’ Luke Graham insisted there was no defacto target system in place, he assured the audience that as an MP he would stand up for those unfairly sanctioned.

The candidates then closed with Ms Ahmed-Sheikh receiving a warm reception by saying it is time to affect change at Westminster.

Mr Banks then talked about ‘hope, fairness and ambition’ before pledging an end to zero hour contracts and underlining the fact the Labour manifesto is fully costed.

Mr Graham took the opportunity to remind the audience that Conservatives would stand firm on their principles and won’t be ‘bent’ like other parties.

Dr Stefanov then received a warm ovation when he said he would like to see Nigel Farage in the House of Commons so he could argue with fellow MPs there and not on the streets.

The polls open in eight days with a high turnout expected across Scotland as a result of increased political engagement following the independence referendum.

The Advertiser spoke with the four main Ochil and South Perthshire candidates and invited them to express their views on a handful of topics. Read their views on pages 35 - 38.