Candidates from the three main parties faced questions from the public at the opening event of Hay Festival Winter Weekend.
Organised in partnership with The Brecon & Radnor Express, the event saw journalist Oliver Bullough chair a discussion with Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds, who won the Brecon and Radnorshire seat from the Conservatives at an August by-election, and her Tory and Labour challengers, Fay Jones and Brecon town councillor Tom Davies.
Brexit, the climate emergency and local cuts dominated audience questions.
"We are not going to sacrifice our high food and safety standards. We’re proud of the way we farm and we’re going to protect that," said conservative Fay Jones when asked about future trade negotiations, arguing that it was essential to deliver on the 2016 referendum as soon as possible. "If we don’t respect the [Brexit] vote, we will fracture the public’s confidence in our political system."
Labour's Tom Davies argued that a second vote was the logical way to bring the country together. "We have a much clearer understanding now on the damage that Brexit would do."
"[Another referendum] is moving the goal posts. Would you like best of five?" responded Jones.
With many Extinction Rebellion activists in the audience, the climate emergency then took centre stage. An issue, "bigger than Brexit" according to Dodds. "As individuals, as governments, as groups, we have a choice."
"We want to put the climate emergency at the heart of our policies. It’s on the first page of our manifesto. We have a plan - a green industrial revolution - ready to go," said Davies.
"We have to do what’s achievable… Taking people with us is really important. [Tackling the climate crisis] cannot be the property of just the Left or the Right," said Jones.
And with Hay Public Library facing further cuts and controversy surrounding Hay's banking facilities, rural services were top of the agenda with an audience member asking: "Last year, Powys County Council decided that they would cut the library budget by £200,000. Public libraries transform lives. How will the candidates protect Hay Public Library from further cuts?"
"Libraries are the living rooms of the world. They have to be preserved. I now live in Hay. I want to support Hay Public Library, but it’s wider than this too, it’s about the values we hold high," responded Dodds, with broad agreement from her rivals.
Explore the full Hay Festival Winter Weekend line up HERE.