THE FOUR hopefuls vying for east London’s most marginal seat battled it out at a heated hustings.

Labour incumbent Wes Streeting, his Conservative predecessor Lee Scott, Liberal Democrat Rich Clare, and independent candidate Doris Osen were quizzed on what they can offer Ilford North at Fulwell Cross Library in Barkingside last night (May 25).

With Brexit and the recent controversy over social care funding at the top of the agenda, candidates also faced questions on immigration, education, and foreign policy.

Asked how their policies would affect pensioners, Lib Dem Mr Clare promised to guarantee his party’s triple lock on pensions, which guarantees payments in line with highest average earnings, prices, or 2.5 per cent.

Eighty-seven-year-old Mrs Osen said not everyone needs a higher pension and funding should be reserved for those who really need it.

Mr Scott’s promises that “nobody will have to sell their home to pay for family care” or “be left with less than £100,000” was met with boos from the audience.

He fiercely denied the Prime Minister’s U-turn on the issue last week and said she was merely “clarifying” the situation and accused Labour of “scaremongering”.

His Labour rival Mr Streeting slammed the Tory manifesto on social care as “arrogant and wrong” and accused Theresa May of asking for a “blank cheque” from pensioners.

Fearmongering was brought up again when talk turned to schools and a South Woodford governor asked “where’s the money going to come from for education in Redbridge?”

Mr Streeting cited his own education that took him from a council estate to Cambridge and on to becoming an MP as the reason he will fight any more budget cuts.

He said: "It's such a disgrace every school in Ilford North is facing cuts.

"Any Government that is cutting education is playing with our futures, so I won’t vote in any bill that attacks education in this borough.”

Mr Scott denied they are being cut and claimed the Tories will put £45 billion into education if re-elected.

While the questioner retorted “cuts are happening now”, Mr Clare criticised the Government’s decision to means test free school meals and Mrs Osen said she would fund education by reducing politicians’ salaries and making prisoners “pay their keep”.

On to Brexit and Mrs Osen warned the audience “not to be fooled” and claimed “the EU just wants our money”.

Mr Scott, who voted to remain, said the General Election is about “strong leadership and getting the best Brexit deal for our country”.

On immigration, he added: “Every time anyone talks about immigration they are called a racist.

“But the people I talk to about immigration are second or third generation immigrants themselves.

“We mustn’t hide from the subject, because it is an issue for people, and immigration must be sustainable.”

His Labour and Lib Dem rivals agreed people have shied away from the issue, with Mr Clare declaring his party will make “the positive case for immigration” and allow 50,000 more asylum seekers in.

Mr Streeting admitted “mistakes have been made with freedom of movement, but if you want money for schools, pensions, and infrastructure, we’re going to have to attract more talented people from around the world.”

Mrs Osen concluded by saying there are “too many immigrants undercutting the minimum wage”.

In his final statement Mr Streeting said “the Tories shout scaremongering at every issue” but claimed their manifesto contradicts that and only he can protect voters’ interests.

His rival Mr Scott said voting for him would mean Ilford North “has the ear of the Government”, while a Labour win would be “Wes in a room talking to himself”.

Mr Clare just urged people to go out and vote, while Mrs Osen said a vote for her was a vote for “something different.”