Candidates discuss Putin’s ‘existential threat’ in lively south Wiltshire debate

The debate turned deadly serious during a sellout in Warminster as the South West Wiltshire candidates discussed the “existential threat” Putin poses to the UK.

Labor Party candidate Evelyn Akoto, Conservative Andrew Murrison, Liberal Democrat Bret Palmer, Reform candidate Garry Irvin, Independent candidate Thomas Culshaw and Independent candidate James Ward were gathered at the Athenæum on Wednesday 20 June to answer questions from residents.

(Image: Newsquest)

With the event being broadcast live on Warminster Community Radio, the audience was told there would be “no tolerance” for interruptions.

This rule was largely followed until it was asked whether 2.5% of GDP was enough to spend on defence.

Independent candidate James Ward said: “I think it should be bigger. I’m worried about Putin, I’m worried about China”.

He added: “If Putin decides that Ukraine is not going to be the place to stop, who will defend this country if Europe goes to war?

What if Trump comes in and says I’m not into this, you’re on your own.

“We need to have an army capable of defending our realm, and right now we don’t.”

Conservative candidate Andrew Murrison said: “I am proud that my party has committed to increasing defense by 2.5% and £70 billion.

“That actually has implications for this garrison city, and if I’m re-elected, I would definitely make sure we have a piece of that action.”

He added: “We live in an uncertain world, it’s more uncertain than I can ever remember and I served in the cold war, but we have to stand up to Putin, he’s an existential threat to this country.”

Although the audience applauded his remarks, when he brought up Keir Starmer’s previous support for Jeremy Corbyn, known for promoting non-interventionism and nuclear disarmament, he faced an angry reaction from the crowd.

One woman shouted: “And you supported Boris!”

He then led a “Boris, Boris, Boris” chant, which was quickly silenced by the host.

Liberal Democrat Bret Palmer said: “Yes we need to fund the army but we need to make sure we have the numbers of troops and all the equipment.

“It’s important that we have the ability to do that ourselves because it will hopefully spur the rest of NATO to cough up.”

He added that the history books could look back at this time and say the world was already in a “proxy war – Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and the NATO alliance countries”.

Reform candidate Garry Irvin said: “As a former soldier I am very concerned about the degradation of the military capability of the British armed forces.”

He noted: “I would push for more growth and even an immediate injection to procure more ammunition, more weaponry, more equipment.

He suggested this should be paid for in part by cutting foreign aid to countries that are “antagonistic to the UK”.

When asked for examples, he listed China and India, while an audience member suggested: “Cornwall?”

Independent candidate Tom Ward argued: “There is a lot of tension on the global stage and broadcasting is what we really, really need.

He also said: “Increasing our defense spending above our NATO commitments is not defusing the situation, but preparing for war.”

Labor Party candidate Evelyn Akoto said: “The Conservative Party has reduced the military to its smallest size since Napoleon and wasted more than £15 billion on bad defense procurement.”

She added: “We face external threats, both state and non-state actors, and we need to make sure we are prepared to defend ourselves.

“There is nothing more important than defense.”

The full recording of the event can be found on the WCR website.

The candidates discussed several other topics during the lively debate.

Green Party candidate Fay Whitfield was unable to attend.

Labor is just ahead of the Tories in the latest election calculation prediction for South West Wiltshire.