Hustings are a feature of election campaigns. They are usually organised by an interest group, say environmentalists, churches, or as I did for many years in Tottenham trade unions.
As the Chair and then Secretary of Haringey TUC I organised election hustings for the late Bernie Grant. Things were different in those pre-2000 days and there was no requirement to invite all candidates. I usually asked the Green Party and on one memorable occasion a Liberal Democrat candidate pitched up well to the left of anything Bernie was saying (it did not help their vote)
More recently post 2000 I have been involved (until the pandemic) with organising hustings type events for left candidates, although the Trades Council continued to back Labour.
On Tuesday there was a Local Voices community hustings for the Gorton and Denton by-election held in a Gorton Church. I don’t know who the organisers were but the venue is a clue to the status of an event. A Church indicates respectability. Hence as far as I can tell from social media all the candidates except one turned up. Reform’s Matthew Goodwin did not appear.
In a statement on social media he noted that he only planned to attend events organised by the Manchester Evening News and BBC Manchester. There is a local hustings in Levenshulme on Thursday which presumably he is swerving too.
Does it matter? Hustings are part of the rough and tumble of election campaigns. Attendance may vary but word gets around. Do candidates have a grasp of the local area and issues (or at least have they been briefed on it)?
My experience in North London where a local base for Tory and right-wing candidates has long since withered is that if they either don’t appear at hustings or appear ill informed they will remain on the ballot but often disappear from view before election day. It will be interesting to see if Matt Goodwin lasts the distance.
Kmflett's Blog 
I saw Bernie speak at a Southwark Council meeting in the 80s, called to discuss the dire state of representation of people of colour and ethnic minorities at the time.
There was a lot of doom and gloom. Then Bernie spoke. He regaled us with stories of bin bag companies vying for business by offering bags of many colours, grey, multi-coloured and possibly even rainbow, in the mistaken belief that anything named black was derogatory and not merely descriptive.(I remember being asked a few times round about then if it was alright to say “black coffee”.)
The mood lifted. There was laughter. Ideas for action were put forward and plans began. Subsequently groups were set up.
Great man, Bernie.