Michael Lavalette, standing as an independent in the Preston constituency, made the comments during a general election hustings debate staged by the Lancashire Post, Lancashire Lead and Blog Preston.
Six out of the ten people on the ballot on 4th July took part in the event:
DAVID BROOKS (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom)
NEIL DARBY (Liberal Democrats)
TREVOR HART (Conservative Party)
SIR MARK HENDRICK (Labour and Co-Operative Party)
MICHAEL LAVALETTE (Independent)
JOSEPH O’MEACHAIR (Rejoin EU)
The other four candidates sent their apologies. They are:
YOUSUF BHAILOK (Independent)
JAMES ELLIOT (Reform UK)
DEREK KILLEEN (UKIP)
ISABELLA METCALF-RIENER (Green Party)
