PROSPECTIVE Parliamentary candidates for Skipton and Ripon have been invited to debate the priorities for small firms by members of the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB).

The ‘general election husting’ is free and open to members and non-members of the group, and takes place at Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel on April 21, starting at 6pm.

Candidates confirmed to attend are Julian Smith (Conservative); Malcolm Birks (Labour); Andrew Brown (Green); Jacquie Bell (Liberal Democrat) and Alan Henderson (UKIP).

A spokeswoman for the federation said: “The FSB wishes to see political leadership and focus on the pressing issues that small businesses face right now, and which will only intensify through the next five-year Parliament.”

To book tickets for the event or for more information contact Emma Smailes at Emma.smailes@fsb.org.uk, or telephone 01751 467165.

Meanwhile, Green Party candidate Andrew Brown was surprised to find out that he had not received an invitation to speak to farmers at the two main Craven dairy auctions at Skipton Auction Mart during April.

Candidates from the four other main parties will address farmers at the auctions. But Mr Brown was pleased to discover that it was ‘an oversight’ by the organisers and he will now take his place on the speakers’ podium.

He said: “The first I knew about it was in the Herald but I was assured that it had just been an oversight that I was not invited and the whole thing was settled very amicably.

“I am grateful for the chance to speak to farmers as there is a lot to talk about - there are major problems in the farming industry.”