THE run-up to an election would usually see candidates gather in out of the way community centres or draughty church halls to face a grilling from the public.

But thanks to Covid, this year’s hustings for the Holyrood election are having to take place online.

More than 60 people last week logged on to a question and answer session organised by the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) Dundee for candidates in the north-east.

It took place on Thursday before campaigning was suspended in the wake of Prince Philip’s death.

The night followed a typical ­format for a hustings event, with opening statements followed by submitted questions and also questions directly from the audience.

In the first few minutes Maggie Chapman of the Greens fell victim to the most frustrating feature of online meetings – a dodgy internet ­connection.

Topics for discussion included ­local issues such as pay discrimination against women workers, housing problems and drugs deaths.

The constitutional debate was raised when one participant asked the candidates whether they ­supported Scotland’s right to choose its own future and how soon a referendum should be held.

Jim McFarlane, of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) party, said he was in favour of an ­“independent socialist Scotland” – but argued lessons had to be learned on how best to approach the campaigning for it.

He said: “This isn’t 2014 again – the British state, the British ruling class have learned some of their lessons here. They were complacent last time and they nearly lost. So let’s not underestimate the power of the British state and the lengths they will go to to protect their interests in that.

“That means building a mass movement – not just relying on Boris Johnson or whatever Tory government giving consent for a Section 30.”

The event being organised by the RIC might give some idea of the ­audience’s likely views on independence. However Ben Lawrie, ­Scottish ­Liberal Democrat candidate for ­Angus South, valiantly attempted to argue the case for federalism.

He said the UK Government was too “London-centric” and that he wanted to see power brought closer to home.

But he added: “To me I don’t think independence is the best way of doing that.

“I support a third way, an alternative to independence or the status quo. That third way for me is the F word – federalism.”

Scottish Greens list candidate Chapman unsurprisingly argued the case for independence – but said the discussion around separating from the UK should be used to “rethink power completely”.

“I want to devolve power to local authorities and below local authorities to communities, to workers, so we can actually completely take control and completely reform how we make decisions in this country, how we view politics,” she said.

“What we need is a very clear commitment from all parties interested in Scotland’s future, a commitment to give power back to people.

“Power should sit with the people, not with a select few in rarefied ­offices, whether those offices are in Edinburgh or London.”

Shona Robison, SNP candidate for Dundee City East, also said the current constitutional debate was not the same as in 2014 – with support for independence growing since that time.

“We have a very aggressive Unionism – it is not the status quo versus independence, the status quo doesn’t exist any more, it is a very, very different argument,” she said.

“And I would like to see us ­coming together, a very broad based ­campaign and trying to persuade those who have not yet been persuaded that ­independence is the best way forward for us all.

“I am very confident, it feels very close now – closer than it ever has done in my lifetime and I think we are within touching distance.”

The Scottish Labour candidate for Dundee City West, Mercedes Villalba said she supported Scotland’s right to choose its future – and even suggested further work should be done to pin down exactly when it a referendum should be held.

SHE said: “On the question of when, it is difficult as we don’t really have –as far as I am aware – a clear mechanism in place unlike in Ireland where they have the border poll.

“So we could look at getting some kind of clear mechanism which can’t be disputed whether it is to do with polling or a time period like every ‘X’ amount of years, as it is meant to be a union of consent that we all choose to be a part of.”

However she added: “I think we all agree we are in the middle of a ­pandemic and so that has to be the primary focus for everyone.”

The online format meant the immediacy of audience reaction to the candidate comments was largely missing.

But there was some feedback in the comments section – with a remark by Villalba prompting a heated discussion over whether private schools should be abolished as she had suggested. The leader of her party Anas Sarwar has faced criticism for sending his children to private school, as some comments pointed out.

A poll taken at the end of the night had Maggie Chapman as the candidate who performed best – and her party was also the most popular when it came to the issue of the May vote.

A spokesperson for RIC Dundee said the election was the first opportunity to host a hustings after the group was re-established following a dormant period.

But they added: “That said, we also felt that the Covid-19 pandemic made it all the more important, because voters and parties haven’t been able to speak with each other on the street or the doorstep as usual.”