General election 2015: Ardrossan hustings

Katy Clark I'm standing again to ask you to elect me as your Labour Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran. I've been a Member of Parliament for 10 years and I'm proud to stand on my record. I'm standing on values that I hold dear and the principles that I believe in. I'm standing for the Labour Party as somebody that has been active in the Labour Party since the 1980s because I know this area needs a Labour MP and what this area needs more than anything is for the Tories to be kicked out of government on May 7. We need to makes sure that Scotland sends Labour MPs to Westminster to kick out the Tories. If we don't return Labour MPs from Scotland it's going to make it more difficult.

Labour have got a radical bold policy platform at this election. A programme that will change the lives of people in this area. A programme that's about tackling the low pay that is endemic. About giving people better rights at work. About taking on the banks and the multi-nationals. About tackling tax avoidance and about challenging vested interests wherever they lie.

I hope we talk about this tonight and I hope that at the end of this evening those of you who are willing to engage and haven't absolutely made up their minds will decide that I am the best candidate to represent you again.

Patricia Gibson: I am standing in this seat because I believe people's lives can be better. Things to do not have to be as they have always been. The SNP is the only party to propose an alternative to austerity. Austerity policies that were subscribed to and endorsed by Labour and the Tories on January in the House of Commons imposing £30billion of additional cuts across the United Kingdom. The UK began the recession with the second highest deficit in the industrial world and today we still have the second highest deficit in the industrial world. In every other country deficits have been cut by economic growth and we should do likewise. Modest annual public spending increases of 0.5 per cent would provide an additional £180billion across the UK to invest in infrastructure, public services and sustainable employment over the next Parliament. The SNP government has fought in Scotland to protect household budgets within the limited powers of devolution. We have frozen the council tax and established a Scottish Welfare Fund to help families in need. We have mitigated the Bedroom Tax and would increase the top rate of tax to 50p in the pound for those earning for than £150,000. Rising inequality under the Tories and Labour has reduced UK living standards by nearly nine per cent since 1990.

Tackling inequality is an overarching priority for the SNP alongside boosting competitiveness so Scotland will have a fairer and more prosperous society. Labour will not reverse but will continue the cuts proposed by the Conservatives. Only the SNP will stand up for Scotland.

Jamie Greene I know there are people are in this room that I would never, ever convince to vote for me in a month of Sundays. I accept that fact but what I would like to say to you is thank you for allowing me to come here tonight to share my views. It is what democracy is all about and we are very luck in this country that we are able to do that.

It's not easy being a Tory in this part of the world, actually. But what is easy is to put your neck on the line and stand up for what you believe in and to express your views to those around you. Because I think everyone at this table has one thing in common – we all want to do good for our communities and those around us.

You're going to hear a lot today about austerity and it's going to be used like it's a dirty word. What I want to say to you is it's not a dirty word the way it's being used. There is absolutely no way we could have kept going the way we were – spending money we didn't have putting debt onto future generations. No sitting government ever takes popular decisions or easy decisions. We made decisions that we had to take. We have to save this country from bankruptcy. We're half way there. Let's keep going.

Sharon McGonigal I'm standing for UKIP because I think Britain is better off outside the European Union. I see the EU as an anti-democratic institution which makes things tougher for people – tougher for farmers, tougher for small businesses. They seem to introduce an awful lot of red tape. It's a giant legislative machine that just keeps churning out new legislation. I really do believe we will be better off outside of the EU and that we will leave the EU at some point.

I know a lot people like the EU, but I see it as not for the people but for corporations. I think it's run in the interests of big business, it's not run in the interests of the ordinary people who go out to work everyday. It's there to allow the free movement of cheap labour for exploitation by huge corporations and that's why I joined UKIP.

When it comes to immigration I believe we should have a cap on immigration and we should as a nation have people coming here with jobs that we need and skills that we require. I don't believe we should just allow everybody into the country to be a drain on our public resources and our welfare state. That's why I joined UKIP and why I am here today.

I know that most people will probably not vote for me but I promise you I am not a racist. It's not about race it's about the number of people in society, it's about the drain on the NHS, it's about the number people who need housing. These are all things that are in our manifesto and I do hope that even if you are not going to vote for me, you to take the time to see what we have to offer in our manifesto – it's not all bad.

Ruby Kirkwood (received after the meeting) In North Ayrshire and across Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats are helping build a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life. And we want to keep doing that. Our 5 priorities are: - A secure economy: Have a strong economy and reduce the amount of money the government borrows.

- Fair taxes: Let people earn £12,500 tax free.

- Quality health care for all: Spend £800 million in Scotland to improve our NHS and guarantee equal care for mental health.

- Opportunity for every child: Guarantee education funding from nursery to 19 and qualified teachers in every class.

- Protect the environment: Protect nature and fight climate change.

In the coalition government we have cut income tax, increased the state pension, created more jobs, helped more apprentices get into work, improved childcare and more. Let us continue the job.