The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats clashed last night as the three parties’ candidates laid out their case to be Chingford and Woodford Green’s next member of parliament.

With almost 200 residents packed into Woodford Memorial Hall, incumbent Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith faced off with Labour’s Faiza Shaheen and the Lib Dem’s Geoff Seeff.

The hustings was chaired by the reverend Canon Ian Tarrant, of St Mary’s Church, Woodford, and rabbi Richard Jacobi, of the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue.

Duncan Smith, who has held the seat since 1992, began the night by saying the election was largely about Brexit.

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Iain Duncan Smith has held the seat since 1992. Photo: Ken Mears

"We need to get that done... the reality is that people want to see that through and so we can move on”, he said.

The MP, whose majority was slashed from 8,386 to 2,438 in 2017, added that securing £400 million to rebuild Whipps Cross hospital was his proudest moment in his career.

Labour's candidate, Faiza Shaheen, is expected to run him close on December 12, boosted by the Green Party's decision not to field a candidate.

She opened by saying she had rejected the opportunity to run for a safe seat, instead choosing to fight to represent the area she grew up in.

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Faiza Shaheen grew up in the area and was born in Whipps Cross hospital. Photo: Ken Mears

"It’s the only place that I will ever stand", she said. "I will be the MP that listens to you, that stands by you and fights in your corner when you need me to."

The Liberal Democrat candidate Geoff Seeff will be looking to improve on the party’s haul of 2,043 votes in 2017.

He told residents he was there to make the case for Europe.

"For three years we have been tearing ourselves apart over Brexit, lets revoke article 50", he said.

Chingford and Woodford Green voted Remain in the EU referendum with 50.12 per cent of the vote share.

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Liberal Democrat Geoff Seeff made the case for staying in the EU. Photo: Ken Mears

Responding to residents’ questions, Duncan Smith admitted climate crisis was "the most important issue we face”.

Faiza Shaheen contended Labour were the only party to put green issues at the forefront of its manifesto, pledging a £250 billion green transformation fund.

She added: “What are we going to say to the next generation if we don't make that move now and fail to act before it’s too late.”

The candidates clashed over Whipps Cross hospital. Duncan Smith said the £400m provided will help build a new hospital "to modern standards which will therefore give much better and more efficient treatment."

However, Shaheen questioned plans to raise an extra £300m for the rebuild by building housing on the site of the current hospital, asking whether it would be affordable.

When asked which way they would campaign in a potential second referendum, Duncan Smith said the first referendum result had to be respected.

Both Seeff and Shaheen said they would campaign for remain.

On violent crime, Duncan Smith called for expanded stop and search powers to support recruitment of new police.

One woman in the crowd shouted the proposals would lead to “black boys up and down the country being harassed by the police."

On immigration Duncan Smith said the government's point based system would make sure the "door will be open" to people who are "needed in the country" so communities have the time to "adapt and cope".

Faiza Shaheen responded by saying immigration had “enriched society”

"Im so tired of immigrants being thrown under the bus", she added. "The way in which we talk about immigration is to scapegoat immigrants when we haven't invested in communities and infrastructure.”

Seeff agreed, saying immigrants had “made this country” and said “we should be embracing and welcoming immigrants.”