Candidates Put to Question

Questions about social networking websites, crime, Europe and training were among a range answered by prospective Parliamentary candidates for South Derbyshire at a debate at School last night. (Tuesday April 20)

Organised by the Politics Society, the Question Time debate attracted a capacity audience of 180 consisting of students from The Pingle School in Swadlincote, district residents, Repton’s Lower Sixth Form Politics students, school staff and Upper Sixth students eligible to vote on May 6.

The idea of the debate came entirely from the pupils, with them selecting and liaising with panellists and two of them - President of the Politics Society Calum Setterington (S) and editor of the school magazine Sam Kingston-Jones (S) - chairing it.

The six-strong panel who faced a quizzing from the audience were Ben Duckworth, Editor of Total Politics Magazine, Conservative candidate Heather Wheeler, Liberal Democrat Alexis Diouf, local government journalist Kirsty Green, Michael Edwards, candidate for the Labour Party and Nick ‘The Flying Brick’ Delves for the Monster Raving Looney Party.

The event was open to anyone interested and the publicity for it invited people to submit questions for consideration too. The organising committee decided a few hours before the debate which would be asked and although panellists were not informed of the questions they were advised of potential themes.

As well as issues that could have been anticipated such as crime, unemployment and membership of the European Union, the panel members were also asked their views on the use by politicians of communication channels such as Facebook and Twitter, whether or not their largely urban experience prepared them to serve a rural district like South Derbyshire and what the long term effect of the de-Christianisation of the country will be and if it matters.

The Chairmen closed the event by thanking the panellists and saying they hoped it had helped the audience to decide how they might use their ballot on May 6.

Mitre Housemistress and History teacher Anna Parish, who helped the Society members to plan and organise the debate, said: “I’m really pleased with the way it has gone, there has been lively and engaging debate, Calum and Sam handled the questions really well and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves.”