A LIVELY hustings saw Devizes election candidates go head-to-head in a bid to win over residents - though there was a lot of common ground between them.

Conservative Danny Kruger, Labour’s Rachael Ross, Jo Waltham of the Liberal Democrats and Green Party representative Emma Dawney vied for votes in front of a packed audience at Pewsey's Bouverie Hall.

Questions were not supposed to single out candidates but one audience member ended a general query about the importance of ethics and honesty in politics by asking Mr Kruger directly “Why would you work for a liar?”

He replied: “Boris Johnson is 110 per cent human with a bunch of flaws and positive qualities. The main quality he has is leadership.

“He will have made mistakes and said things that aren’t right but I think he’s a man for our times, though not to everyone’s tastes.”

Mr Kruger’s opposition criticised the PM and emphasised the importance of being able to trust the people in power.

Promises of support for military funding came from all candidates, with Rachael Ross highlighting her family’s military background and expressing concerns about the lack of support for veterans when they retire from active service.

Emma Dawney spoke at length about the need to prioritise progress and increase investment towards zero-carbon emissions targets to “live prosperous happy lives without fossil fuels.”

All candidates were in favour of implementing improved bus and railway networks in the area and agreed that more needs to be done to support children with special educational needs.

Jo Waltham highlighted one mum whose daughter had to spend two hours on a bus to and from school and pushed to revise government guidelines which allowed this to happen.

Green, Liberal Democrat and Labour representatives raised concerns over the effects of Brexit on science funding, national security and the NHS.

Mr Kruger promised to honour the referendum result and said he would vote to leave at the end of the implementation period in 2020 “whether we have a free trade deal or not”.

Pewsey parish council chairman Curly Haskell moderated the debate and restored order when the crowd were boisterous.