SIX parliamentary candidates vying for the votes of Newport constituents were greeted by a packed church for a hustings meeting on Sunday night.

Newport East candidates Labour Jessica Morden, Conservative Dawn Parry, David Rowlands for UKIP and Liberal Democrat Ed Townsend were joined by Newport West candidates Pippa Bartolotti for the Green Party and Jeff Rees for Plaid Cymru at St Julian’s Baptist Church.

Chaired by Adrian Masters, each candidate was given a few minutes to make some opening statements and later some final remarks.

The panel was asked about the nation’s rising debt, where candidates would make cuts, children's safety on coaches, the role of Christianity in schools and energy.

Mr Townsend explained the Liberal Democrats’ plans for taxes, having fewer children in each school class, a pay rise cap, scrapping of the ID scheme and a full defence review.

Mr Rees said how money could be saved from stopping Trident and abandoning the ID scheme but still protecting front-line services.

Mr Rowlands argued coming out of the EU would create savings and said there was no need for lots of new nuclear power stations.

Ms Morden said how spending would have to be higher in the years to come but that they would protect schools, the NHS and frontline policing.

Ms Bartolotti stated there would be some tax rises, the creation of a citizens income and reform of the entire benefits system.

Ms Parry said she would work to bring back jobs to Newport and said the Conservatives would stop spending so much money on quangos and cut red tape and bureaucracy.

* NewsPort, the student newspaper at the University of Wales, Newport, is hosting a series of 'Meet the Candidates' sessions at the Students’ Union.

Students will have the chance to meet Newport West candidates at the union on Tuesday, May 4 at 8pm.

Newport Lib Dem candidate mistakenly claimed as 'MP'

Ed Townsend, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Newport East, mistakenly claimed he is an MP on a leaflet sent out to constituents earlier this month.

Mr Townsend, who is the deputy leader of Newport City Council, claimed in the leaflet: “I’ve always put local people first as our MP.”

Welsh Labour’s campaign co-ordinator, Wayne David, has called for Mr Townsend to apologise to voters and to destroy the leaflets.

Mr Townsend’s office said it was a genuine typing error and that the letters stopped being sent out as soon as the error was known.

A spokeswoman said the leaflet made a clear reference to the fact Newport East has had a Labour MP for the last five years.