By Kate Pounds
November 27 2019, 10.40
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Boris Johnson was called chicken after not confirming for hustings in Uxbridge and South Ruislip where he has been empty chaired before.
The general election hustings at St Andrew’s Church in Uxbridge have been cancelled.
Labour Party candidate Ali Milani said: “That’s always the big hustings in our constituency. Boris attended in 2015, and has chosen not to attend this time. I hear the distant echo of a chicken noise.”
Mr Milani tweeted: “So @BorisJohnson has said he will not attending the hustings in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and it has therefore been cancelled.”
Neither St Andrew’s Church or the Hillingdon Conservatives responded to requests for comment.
Pastor Blake-Lobb, of Yiewsley Church Uxbridge, where another hustings is taking place, explained that Mr Johnson didn’t attend their hustings in 2017, so he was empty chaired.
He said Yiewsley Church has no problem empty chairing candidates who don’t turn up.
Mr Milani, who had just returned from a visit to bus drivers at a garage in Uxbridge, sounded as though he wouldn’t miss a hustings for the world. He explained that he’s ‘loving’ being a first-time candidate.
He expressed surprise at what he described as the longer hours bus drivers are working for the less pay they receive.
Mr Johnson is one of three candidates who haven’t confirmed attendance at the Yiewsley hustings this time around.
Only Mr Milani and Green Party candidate Mark Kier have confirmed..
Pastor Blake-Lobb said: “We want to provide the opportunity for constituents to hear from all candidates. We’d love to hear from any of the candidates that haven’t yet responded, or any of their representatives.”
He explained there was a clash between a TV debate and the Yiewsley Church hustings planned for December 6.
Yiewsley is waiting to hear from all the candidates regarding their availability before confirming a new date.
