VOTERS will go to the polls on May 5 and as the day draws nearer, local candidates in the Borders are busy fighting their corner.

At a hustings event organised by Tweeddale Action Group in Innerleithen on Monday, Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale candidates were grilled by members of the public on issues such as immigration, taxation, health and social care, and a topic never far from controversy; Scottish Independence. 

Among the Holyrood hopefuls were Michelle Ballantyne (Conservative), Fiona Dugdale (Labour), Christine Grahame (SNP), and Kris Chapman (Lib Dems).

Joining them were representatives from the Green Party, Sarah Beattie-Smith, 'RISE' – Scotland's Left Alliance and 'Solidarity' - Scotland's pro-independence socialist party.

As expected, things got heated. Michelle Ballantyne defended closed immigration Borders, arguing that as seen by the trouble elsewhere in Europe an open border policy isn't healthy. She said: "We try to give them aid to enable them to stay in their own country until things settle down."

And Christine Grahame furiously condemned that policy as "shameful."

"I am ashamed that the government are asking these desperate people stay in war torn countries until things 'settle down,' she said. "If I lived in Syria I would certainly be taking my family out of there and would not expect to be put on boats reminiscent of war time and see fences put up around those countries that are able to help. It's shameful."

When it came to the inevitable independence row, Christine had the Green Party on her side with the other four against her.

Michelle Ballantyne would only support a referendum if it were "fiscally feasible" which she believes it never will be. Fiona Dugdale pleaded with the SNP candidate that a democratic vote decided against independence so politicians should stop trying to convince Scotland this is what they want - with Kris Chapman seconding.

Christine Grahame hit back that independence is the only way Scotland can prosper and protect services such as the NHS and free education.

However a topic closer to home did unite the candidates: that improvements to transport and infrastructure in order to boost tourism in the Borders would be prioritised.

Similarly, all see an urgent need for investment in education following the recent PPP/PFI scandal. Sarah Beattie Smith argued that schools decades old are still standing where as ones built privately are falling down after 10 years, demonstrating a need for more funding. Labour and Lib Dem candidates argued this will be achieved by a penny increase on income tax which will raise over £500m for education.

Tweeddale Action Group member Joan Rowley was thrilled with how the evening went. Around 80 people attended and there was no shortage of questions. "This is how people get to know the candidates," she said. "It's easy to think that the Conservatives have one view and Labour have the opposite, but it takes something like this to really understand the individuals that will be representing you.

"It also gives people the chance to hear how their representatives will address local issues which they wouldn't otherwise get. It's probably helped a few people decide how to vote.

"And, isn't it great to see six strong, powerful women up there?"