Tulip Siddiq was replaced by a rag doll at last-minute hustings ahead of the general election.

The Hampstead and Highgate Labour candidate - who was Hampstead and Kilburn MP before the election was called - and Rejoin EU candidate Christie Elan-Cane did not make it to the hustings at St Thomas More Church, Maresfield Gardens, Hampstead on Tuesday night.

People will be heading to the polls on Thursday ( July 4) to cast their votes.

Organiser and Independent candidate Jonathan Livingstone was joined by Green candidate Lorna Russell, Conservative Don Williams, Liberal Democrat Scott Emery, and Reform candidate Catherine Becker.

Cllr Russell, who represents Highgate, said: "I'm pleased that we managed to get one in with the majority of the major parties before polling day - though it is disappointing that the incumbent Labour candidate did not attend.

"Despite this we had a healthy and at times robust debate on the important issues facing our country -from the economy to climate change, to the NHS, to housing, to the conflict in Gaza."

Conservative supporter Marx de Morais said he was "disappointed with the silence" of Labour's sitting MP. He added: "Filling in for her was my favourite doll Amsterdam, proudly sporting a Labour rosette."

Tulip's Labour representative said they were not able to find a stand-in for her "without the full details of the event".