OXFORDSHIRE County Council leader Ian Hudspeth took his fair share of criticism as he attempted to cover for David Cameron at a hustings in Woodstock.

He stood in for Mr Cameron at the event, organised by Churches Together, because the Prime Minister was too busy.

A packed audience at Woodstock Town Hall put a variety of questions to Mr Hudspeth and Witney constituency candidates Duncan Enright, for the Labour Party, Andy Graham for the Liberal Democrats, Simon Strutt for Ukip, Stuart Macdonald for The Green Party, an dClive Peedell for the National Health Action Party.

Asked about the Conservative’s austerity measures, Mr Hudspeth told the audience that the last Labour government should have put money aside in the years when the economy was thriving.

On the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreements, which could see international firms bidding for parts of the NHS, Mr Hudspeth said he was against “elements of them” but would not define which ones, to which one voter called out: “He doesn’t know!”

When quizzed about poor conditions and pay for carers, he said the county council has already delivered on ensuring carers get 30 minutes rather than the statutory 15 minutes for their appointments with clients.

Mr Enright insisted he was the candidate most rooted in West Oxfordshire as his business and family are based in Witney.

He said Labour had done much to help make local councils more democratic and shape policies like West Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan. He also called for political reform so that the electoral system would better reflect people’s votes.

On asylum, Mr Strutt said leaving the European Union would help solve the problems of high levels of immigration, but added Ukip would welcome refugees from war-torn countries.

On local development he said Woodstock should be allowed a local referendum on the proposed 1,500-home building project proposed for the town.

Mr Graham was apologetic about the Liberal Democrats’ U-turn on university tuition fees but said by entering into coalition it had acted in the best interests of the country.

He said carers should be trained more and paid properly.

Mr Peedell said the National Health Action Party promoted better provision for mental health care, while the Green Party’s Mr Macdonald criticised the coalition Government for increasing the gap between rich and poor.