THE Labour parliamentary candidate for Epping Forest pulled out of a political hustings at the last minute after refusing to share a platform with the BNP.

Katie Curtis was due to take part in the hustings at the United Reformed Church, in Palmerston Road, Buckhurst Hill, but instead sent a note saying she would not appear alongside BNP candidate Pat Richardson.

Buckhurst Hill Residents Society chairman Tony Oliva , who organised the event, said: “It was unfortunate the Labour candidate wasn't here because a number of the questions were about the current Government's performance and they couldn't really reply.”

Conservative MP Eleanor Laing also said it was “unfortunate” Ms Curtis could not appear.

Mrs Richardson caused mutterings of dissent from the audience at the hustings when she said the only benefits to the NHS she could think of with regards to “foreign”workers were “E-coli, C-dif and misdiagnosis.”

She also said immigration was “beyond a joke” adding: “It hasn't made a big impact on this area yet. Residents aren't happy about that prospect.”

Candidates from the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Green Party and the English Democrats did attend the event.