INEQUALITY was the main point of discussion at a hustings.

The South Wales Equality Group organised the hustings at the University of South Wales’ Newport campus as part of local council elections that take place in May.

Speakers at the event were Pippa Bartolotti deputy spokeswoman for the Wales Green Party, Welsh Conservatives candidate Saleh Baqi, Phil Saunders from Welsh Labour, Bettws councillor Kevin Whitehead from the Newport Independents and Cameron Wixcey from Plaid Cymru.

Chair of the event was Nichola Davies, family learning project manager from Family Skills Newport.

Speakers were given three minutes to speak on the topic ‘How best can we tackle inequality at a local level’.

Questions were taken from the audience including what can be done to help young people be financial literacy on a local level.

Mr Saunders, from Welsh Labour, said that young people were no different to adults on financial education. He added that educating parents about finances will in turn help them educate their children and advocated a national adult education to deal with bad budgeting and debt.

Ms Bartolotti argued that it should be part of educational process, and pointed out that the education curriculum isn’t created on a local level.

Saleh Baqi, from the Welsh Conservatives, said he wanted to bring back church youth groups in his ward, and this would deal with the situation.

Kevin Whitehead criticised the cut of Communities First and added that the education system has lost the teaching of skills for life after school.

Plaid Cymru candidate Cameron Wixcey said that we need to retailor mathematics so it deals with money.