A TORY candidate has come under fire for defending zero-hours contracts.

Rebecca Coulson, the Conservative candidate for Durham City, told a hustings debate that some people “appreciate the flexibility” they offer.

The comment met with howls and boos from the 250-strong audience at a packed Durham Town Hall.

Mrs Coulson, a self-employed classical musician and writer, responded by asking whether any audience members had actually spoken to anyone with such a contract.

Labour’s Roberta Blackman-Woods said her party would give employees on “exploitative” zero-hours contracts the right to a regular contract after 12 weeks, while Jonathan Elmer, for the Greens, slammed the Coalition over its fitness to work tests, the so-called bedroom tax, Sure Start cuts and the growth of foodbanks.

The exchange proved to be the most heated moment during Monday night’s (April 27) two-hour set-piece debate.

Questions covered climate change, nuclear weapons, austerity, planning issues in Durham and the NHS.

Six of the seven candidates attended and the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham, was in the chair.

Independent John Marshall, the founder of Durham Pine, said he would be selfish for Durham, demanding extra investment and fighting its corner in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat Craig Martin, a teacher, said his party wanted to give people as much freedom as possible and protect people from poverty.

Mrs Coulson said the Conservatives had got the economy back on track, with record employment levels and tax cuts for millions of people.

Mr Elmer said climate change was “the issue” of the 21st century and moving towards a zero carbon economy was absolutely paramount.

Dr Blackman-Woods, Durham’s MP since 2005, said Labour wanted to reduce the budget deficit more slowly and fairly, raise the minimum wage, get rid of exploitative zero-hours contracts and protect the NHS.

Independent Jon Collings said he was a “double issue candidate” – wanting to impose a land value tax and significantly relax planning laws.

Ukip candidate Liam Clark did not attend.

When debate turned to local issues, the candidates were asked about the student-resident balance in the city.

Mr Collings said Durham was always changing and students brought a lot of revenue into the city, but Mr Marshall said the spread of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) had gone far enough.

Mr Elmer said it was the single biggest issue on the doorstep and criticised Durham County Council’s County Durham Plan.

Mrs Coulson called for an Article 4 direction, which would force developers to apply for planning permission to convert a house into an HMO.

Dr Blackman-Woods said Durham needed more balanced communities and the council was “starting to listen” on Article 4 but she pledged to be a “very great challenge” to the Labour-led authority.