Sutton’s first political debate ahead of a general election took place on Monday night.

Speaking at Sutton Grammar School, Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow’s vow to not employ relatives for his constituency and election work was echoed by his opponents.

Mr Burstow, UKIP candidate David Pickles, Conservative candidate Philippa Stroud, Green candidate Peter Hickson and Labour candidate Kathy Allen – represented by her election agent Charlie Mansell – answered questions ranging from the lack of school places for children with autism to the UK’s relationship with the US.

The night’s highlights Are you in favour of keeping grammar schools?

* Labour’s Mr Mansell said it would maintain the current system of parental ballot for a school’s status.

* Conservative Mrs Stroud said she would want to keep grammar schools, which should be able to expand where needed.

* UKIP’s David Pickles said he quit the Tory party in 2007 after leader David Cameron said grammar schools did not work.

* Liberal Democrat Mr Burstow said he believed “strongly” this should be “resolved locally”.

* Green’s Peter Hickson said people should not be selected by their ability to pay, but by their mental ability and added that his main concern was classroom sizes.

Should parents sending children to private schools or those paying for private healthcare be entitled to tax relief?

* Labour’s Mr Mansell said the reality was “we cannot disaggregate this... we all have a stake in society.”

* Tory Mrs Stroud answered with a straight “no” and said tax was there for a “common purpose” and that we had to take a “common responsibility for it”.

* Lib Dem Mr Burstow agreed but said the tax system should be made fairer.

* UKIP’s Mr Pickles said private health and education should qualify for tax relief.

What is each party’s policies on immigration?

* Labour’s Mr Mansell said we had “moved on from the days of Alf Garnet”, but that “we had to think about how to deal with it”.

* Tory Mrs Stroud said it was important to have “tough but compassionate” policies, which did not mean “open doors to everybody”.

* UKIP’s Mr Pickles said the situation was a “disgrace” and UKIP would ban immigration for five years and deport illegal immigrants.

* Lib Dem Mr Burstow said the current system was not always fair and needed to be more “robust” but said immigrants awaiting a decision from the authorites should be allowed to work.

* Green’s Mr Hickson said people coming into the UK needed to be “treated fairly”.

There is still an opportunity to ask your question to prospective leaders at Carshalton Boys’ Sports College on March 15 from 7pm.

Speaking at the event will be current MP for Carshalton and Wallington Lib Dem Tom Brake, Conservative opposition candidate Ken Andrews, Labour candidate Shafi Khan, Green candidate George Dow and UKIP candidate Frank Day.

Submit any questions you would like to be asked on the night to jkennard@london. newsquest.co.uk.