YORK Outer’s Liberal Democrat candidate has hit back after coming under fire for failing to attend a public meeting in Osbaldwick.

Labour candidate James Alexander said Madeleine Kirk might have had a genuine reason for not attending the meeting last week, which was organised by the parish council. But it was the second time she had failed to turn up to such an event – having first missed one last autumn.

Mr Alexander said: “People in Osbaldwick are telling me that they feel she is taking their vote for granted.”

But Madeleine Kirk said she had been unable to attend this meeting and other events at the end of the week because of illness. She said she had missed the previous meeting last September because she had been away on holiday.