A Coventry community group wants to see election hustings held across the city to give candidates a platform to share their aims and an opportunity for the public to ask them: If you want our vote, what will you do with it?
Earlsdon 2.0, a volunteer-led grassroots organisation of residents and traders, held the Earlsdon Community Hustings at the local methodist church on April 30, inviting candidates from all parties to take to the stage and set out their plans.
It’s believed to have been the only such event in the city, even though this is a critical city election where all 54 seats are being contested and Reform is projected to take the lion’s share of votes, pushing out the ruling Labour group.
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Ten of the ward’s 19 election contenders attended to share their visions for this part of the city, including how to revive the struggling high street. The Local Democracy Reporting Service was among those in the audience to hear what party representatives had to say.
Organisers say the event was a success with almost 160 residents in a packed church hall to hear candidates share their visions. They now hope other parts of Coventry will follow suit and hold similar hustings for future elections.
Earlsdon 2.0 said the event centred on a simple idea: If you want people’s votes, you should be willing to stand in front of them and explain what you have done, what you plan to do, and how you will be held to account.
A spokesperson for Earlsdon 2.0 said: “Local democracy should not only happen through leaflets pushed through doors. Leaflets have their place, but they do not allow residents to compare candidates side by side. They do not allow people to hear candidates answer the same questions, under the same rules, in the same room.
“We felt Earlsdon deserved that opportunity. We now believe other parts of Coventry deserve it too.”
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Before the hustings, Earsdon 2.0 spoke to Local Voices, a volunteer group in Manchester who had arranged a similar event for the Gorton and Denton by-election, where the Greens took the seat, to find out what they had learned, what had worked well, and how to keep this kind of forum focused on residents rather than party theatre.
Around 60 questions and comments were sent in from residents through social media, emails and direct messages.
The spokesperson said: “Earlsdon is fortunate in many ways, and we should acknowledge that other parts of Coventry face challenges that are deeper and more urgent.
“But the underlying themes are shared across the city: trust in politics, safer streets, stronger communities, better local services, and whether residents feel anyone is really listening. That is why this matters beyond one ward.
“The candidates who attended gave residents a genuine opportunity to hear different visions for the area. There were clear political differences, but also common themes.
“The event was not perfect. No first attempt ever is. Timings were tight. There were more candidates than originally expected. Some answers could have gone deeper. There were moments where emotions showed, especially towards the end.
“But overall, the evening did what it was meant to do. It brought local democracy into the room. Residents heard candidates talk about practical issues, not just slogans. Candidates had to answer on delivery, not just ambition.”
They added: “Coventry is a city of pride, frustration, resilience and stubborn hope. Many of us know the feeling of looking at the place we call home and thinking it should be doing better. Better for its young people. Better for its high streets. Better for its communities. Better for the people who feel ignored until election time comes around.
“But you do not improve a place by giving up on it. You improve it by showing up. That is the wider lesson from this event.
“People are not as disengaged as we sometimes assume. They are frustrated, yes. They are tired of noise, slogans and tribal politics. But they still care. They still want to be heard. They still want candidates to explain themselves in public.
“Our ambition now is bigger than one evening in Earlsdon. We would like to see similar events set up in other parts of Coventry, shaped by local residents and focused on the issues that matter in each area.
“This should become part of the normal democratic process. If candidates want our vote, they should be willing to stand in front of residents, explain what they have done, set out what they plan to do next and answer fair questions in public.
“That is not unreasonable. That is democracy working properly.”
The next Coventry local elections are in May 2027, when the elections cycle reverts to its normal pattern and a third of the city council’s 54 seats will be up for grabs.
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