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I note the comments made by Howard, Chris and Phil about this being a staged invitation only event.
I find it very sad that the public interaction with leading political figures has become so limited. No doubt security will be cited as a reason and it is a good one, except of course, we still had both security concerns with the IRA and a much freer public access 30 years ago.
Back in the late 70's someone such as Mrs Smith and her opposite number would visit, speak at a public meeting that anyone could attend and answer questions. No vetting, no invitations, those were the days. I used to love going along to see people like Michael Foot and Tony Benn, asking some awkward questions or just 'falling asleep' right in front of them during their speech, old Ray Norley would snore loudly to really put them off their stride!
Labour methods at our meetings were less subtle and a lot noisier than ours at theirs. Once, at an election meeting, a rent-a-crowd Labour mob were shouting and screaming at the back of Dover Town Hall. The Chairman, Cllr Ruth Purnell, asked the audience to stand and turn around, she pointed at the rent-a-crowd, and told the audience 'that is what we are fighting against' to great applause.
Dealing with hecklers was an art form that is now probably lost in these more sterile political times.
Meeting were often well attended too and not necessarily just for the 'big figures'.
I remember when the last Labour Government scrapped Ark Royal. I was Constituency Young Conservative Chairman and invited Geoffrey Pattie down for a public meeting in Sandwich (Then part of Dover Parliamentary Constituency). We did a press release that he was coming with times and venue and invited the media, we had plenty of the public and overall a well attended and lively meeting. Bear in mind he was only no2 in the Conservative Defence team as well!!
In my latter days, up to three years ago during my Association chairmanship, I did not have the same kind of influence over meeting formats as 30 years previously. These days it is all about getting the maximum value out of a visit and the old public meeting format just does not fit the bill.
Those were the days. Maybe they are coming back though....
Cameron Direct meetings that are being held all over the country are ticket only but anyone can apply and there is no vetting. The one recently in North Kent had Labour and Libdem 'observers' there so I know that for a fact. Perhaps not quite what we had in the 70's but still an improvement over invitation only. Questions are not vetted either, incidentally.
I really would like to see a lot more free interaction at public meetings, from all Parties, apart from anything it is fun and can add some spice to an election.