An election meeting organised by Glenfaba and Peel candidate James Hampton in Dalby was cancelled shortly before it was due to take place on Thursday evening after concerns were raised about the event.

Mr Hampton said the meeting, scheduled for 7pm, was cancelled by the venue after another candidate complained that they had not been given sufficient notice to attend.

He said the complaint prompted the Parish Captain to contact him with government guidance on the organisation of election meetings.

According to Mr Hampton, the guidance stated that candidates are entitled to organise their own public meetings, but warned that departing from established protocols and holding an ‘unfair’ meeting could potentially provide grounds for a challenge to the election result.

He said the venue subsequently decided to cancel the booking because of concerns about becoming involved in, or being affected by, any potential legal proceedings which could follow.

Mr Hampton said he accepted the decision and travelled to Dalby at 7pm regardless, where he spent about an hour speaking to residents.

He said he had organised a series of additional public meetings after deciding that such events provided an opportunity for voters who did not want to engage on the doorstep or online.

The meetings were open to all eight candidates standing in the constituency, he said, and invitations had been issued from August.

Mr Hampton said he had made it clear that he was the organiser and that attendance by other candidates was optional.

He also said that, on September 16, a volunteer chairperson had contacted all candidates with details of the Dalby meeting.

However, he received an email from a Parish Captain at 2.08pm on Thursday, September 17, before the venue confirmed its cancellation at 4.53pm.

Mr Hampton said he did not know which candidate had lodged the complaint and had not asked to be told.

He described the cancellation as ‘slightly concerning’ but said he would not seek to challenge the election if he believed the incident had disadvantaged him.

He apologised to Dalby residents for the cancelled meeting and said he would make no further comment.

Eight candidates are standing for the two Glenfaba and Peel seats at next Thursday’s General Election: Katryna Baptist, Mark Cleator, Colleen Dale-Beeton, Daniel Davison, James Hampton, Ray Harmer, Alex Perriam and Geoffrey Pugh.

The constituency’s next listed public meeting is a requisition meeting at Glen Maye Chapel Community Centre at 7pm today (Friday).