PROMOTING tourism, providing cultural entertainment and protecting jobs are the priorities for Chester according to the three main political candidates seeking to become the city’s next MP.

Labour’s Christine Russell told a 200-strong audience at Queen’s Park High School in Handbridge that protecting jobs was a key challenge along with providing affordable homes and support for the growing elderly population.

But she clashed with Tory candidate Stephen Mosley when she called for a more vibrant cultural scene.

Ms Russell said: “Local residents need something to do in their spare time and in the evenings. We need to improve the cultural offer in Chester and get the cinema reopened and let’s reopen the Gateway.”

Mr Mosley hit back blaming the former Labour-Lib Dem administration on the defunct city council for closing the Gateway and selling the seats.

He added: “We can’t reopen it now it’s closed because if it was reopened it would have to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. We would have to spend millions.”

If elected as MP he would work with the Tory-controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council to deliver a state-of-art theatre.

Mr Mosley said he would also make sure Chester won its fair slice of grants for a variety of projects from Government, the European Union and the National Lottery.

Lib Dem candidate Lizzie Jewkes said increasing the number of tourists would be one of her main aims.

She had recently been told Chester was number 22 or 23 on the list of UK tourist destinations which was an “absolute disgrace”.

“Look at our history and our culture. We’ve got a city centre amphitheatre, we’ve got those fabulous walls, we have got so much to offer.”