A PARLIAMENTARY candidate for Truro and Falmouth has branded foxhunting enthusiasts as people who need to get a life.

The Green Party's Ian Wright sparked an outbreak of applause when he made the comment at hustings organised by the West Briton at the Hall for Cornwall on Thursday.

The six people battling for the parliamentary seat were quizzed by voters who packed the room about their views on housing, train services and Cornish being recognised as a national minority.

Their responses sparked mixed reactions, some arguing with the candidates, others groaning at their answers and a few rare outbreaks of applause.

When asked if rail links in Cornwall will be upgraded to take high speed trains, Labour's Charlotte Mackenzie said plans were in the pipeline to encourage people to use trains in the county.

Urgency

Conservative Sarah Newton said she had been part of the work to improve the Truro to Falmouth branch line and said the high-speed link needed to be worked on "as a matter of urgency".

Asked if they would repeal the Hunting Act, Mr Wright said: "There are lots of nice things to do in Cornwall. If you want to go around killing animals you really ought to go and get a life.

"If there are loopholes because the legislation isn't working, then they need to be closed."

Mebyon Kernow's Loic Rich told the room his biggest concerns were the way deficits in public spending would impact on the county as, "Cornwall historically suffers very badly in a recession".

Housing was high on the list of concerns, with questions asked about how the gap between average wages and house prices can be reduced and what the candidates would do about second homes.

"Affordable housing is critical to this area," said Harry Blakeley, from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), who argued that businesses with empty floors above should be given tax breaks so they could be used for homes.

Mr Rich said houses in the region were "not only expensive but also often totally unsuitable to live in".

His party was trying to create a new Cornwall-wide planning policy with the unitary authority to address the issues.

Something needs to be done to address the 7,000 empty houses in the county, said Terrye Teverson, Liberal Democrat candidate, who believes the focus should be on providing "safe, secure and warm" homes for people and their children.

On second homes she said: "If I had my way I would double, no triple or quadruple council tax. If you can afford to buy a second home you can afford to pay it."

Mr Blakeley said it was "totally impractical" for Cornwall to be recognised as a regional minority for as long as the UK is in the European Union.

Mrs Teverson said Cornish people should be able to make their own decisions locally.

"We know what we need," she said, while Mr Rich said it would be an opportunity to export Cornish culture around the world.

If they could only campaign on one issue in their constituency what would it be?

Mr Blakeley: "Really sustainable jobs."

Dr Mackenzie: "For docks development in Falmouth."

Mrs Newton: "The NHS."

Mr Rich: "Local jobs."

Mrs Teverson: "Fair funding and housing."

Mr Wright: "Housing."