There are plenty of opportunities to grill candidates fighting to be elected as Stevenage’s next MP in the week to come.

The Comet: Leader of Stevenage council and labour candidate cllr Sharon Taylor and her team were joined by Ed Miliband's wife Justine in Stevenage town centreLeader of Stevenage council and labour candidate cllr Sharon Taylor and her team were joined by Ed Miliband's wife Justine in Stevenage town centre (Image: Archant)

Three separate election hustings are being held on successive days next week.

Stevenage and District Trade Union Council is holding the first event on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Friends Meeting House in Cuttys Lane.

This is followed by UKIP’s hustings at the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre at 6pm on Thursday.

Finally on Friday, April 16, candidates will be grilled by carers for disabled and older people at the Ellen Terry suite in the leisure centre in Lytton Way between 2pm and 4pm.

The Comet: UKIP candidate David Collins with his money and betting slipUKIP candidate David Collins with his money and betting slip (Image: Archant)

Conservative candidate Stephen McPartland has so far declined to attend any of next week’s meetings but he will be debating at the Churches Together in Stevenage hustings on Sunday, May 3.

UKIP candidate David Collins is attending all three hustings next week and claims his party has a realistic chance of winning the vote.

He has even placed a £500 bet at 66/1 on him becoming the town’s next MP.

“If we win I’ll get back more than £30,000 which I will donate to Herts Air Ambulance and the MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth,” he said.

The Green Party’s candidate Graham White will be debating at several of the hustings and is campaigning for a “complete change in how we structure our society and economy” so that it becomes greener and stops inequality, something he feels needs to change before it’s too late.

Liberal Democrat candidate Susan van de Ven confirmed that she wouldn’t be able to personally attend any of the three debates.

She said Chris White, a Lib Dem councillor at Herts County Council will represent the party at the hustings on Wednesday and also on Sunday, May 3, where he will explain the party’s policies and answer questions from the public.

On Tuesday Labour leader Ed Miliband’s wife Justine visited the town centre to support Sharon Taylor, the party’s election candidate and leader of Stevenage Borough Council.

Justine, who is a barrister, stood outside Wilkinson for an hour talking to voters alongside party members and Councillor Taylor.

The Comet is offering comprehensive coverage of all the candidates ahead of the poll on Thursday, May 7.

To see a full list of candidates and their profiles along with all the latest updates and news visit www.thecomet24.co.uk and click on the election section.