Fiona Bruce presented an hour of debate when BBC Question Time was broadcast from Oxford Brookes University.
On the panel were health minister Andrea Leadsom MP; shadow secretary for international development Lisa Nandy MP; chairman of ASDA Lord Rose; and Professor Anand Menon, director of the political research institute, UK in a Changing Europe.
The first question from the audience was: "Do we have an electoral choice any more and if so, what is it?"
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Conservatives' Andrea Leadsom said it was “Government’s duty is to make life as good as it possibly can for the people”, adding that despite "two once in a 100 year crises”, improvements to NHS services have been made, citing 50 million more GP appointments a year.
Chairman of Asda Lord Stuart Rose said many of the recommendations sent to politicians on how to improve the NHS are ignored.
“This is not a conservative issue, this is not a Labour issue, this is a national issue that needs to be sorted out," he said.
The next question from the audience was: "Why has it taken a TV drama for the Government to take the post office scandal seriously?"
Labour’s Lisa Nandy said there is a “pattern” of ordinary people being dismissed in cases like the Post Office scandal.
“For my constituent who lost his post office… no amount of compensation can undo the wrong that has been done.”
Professor of Politics Anand Menon said there is no culture of questioning in the civil service and he believed the Post Office scandal is not an isolated incident.
“The design of the Post Office was almost there so that everyone could pass the buck.”
Will it make much difference to the economy who wins the next election, was the next question from the audience.
“Dare I mention the words Mrs Thatcher in here - but she always used to say we can’t live beyond our expectations” said Lord Rose, adding he thought uncertainty around inflation means now isn’t the time to lower interest rates.
Prof Menon said: “Finding ways to tax wealth more effectively is one of the potential solutions ahead”, adding that he believed difficult choices must be made by voters and politicians alike - and the solution will likely mean higher taxes.
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The final question was: "Which party can I trust to alleviate the housing crisis?"
“I’m lucky to be from a generation where owning your own property was realistic” said the audience member, adding that he wanted to see more affordable accommodation made available for younger generations.
Lisa Nandy said it’s time to “get the country building again” by reforming the planning system to involve members of the community in the building process.
“It’s time we brought people back into the conversation at the outset," she said.
The current affairs programme was broadcast from the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall, in the Clerici Building on the University’s Headington Campus.
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