Whatever happens in the EU and local elections today (Thursday) will have a direct effect on the Question Time debate taking place at this year’s Marlborough Summer School, now fixed to take place in the Ellis Theatre on July 17.
And the more so since Neil Hamilton, UKIP’s deputy chairman and also its Wiltshire chairman, will be one of the panel of five, which will also include Lord Whitty, former Secretary General of the Labour Party.
They will be joined by Lord Tyler, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Constitutional Reform, Mark Littlewood, Director-General of the Institute of Economic Affairs, with the only woman taking part being Laura Sandys, Tory MP for South Thanet, who is standing down at next year’s General Election.
In the chair will be former Daily Telegraph political correspondent Michael Kallenbach, who told Marlborough News Online: “This is the last debate in a series of three, as next year will be an election year.
“So it has been very difficult to get a panel together.
“However, this year’s debate should prove particularly fascinating since it comes on the heels of the EU elections and the local elections.
“With UKIP in the news on a daily basis – whether it’s positive or negative – the debate this year should be particularly lively and Neil Hamilton, a former Tory MP, now UKIP vice chairman, will no doubt have many questions thrown at him by the audience.”
He added: “In the past the Question Time debate has attracted wide audiences, not only among Summer School participants, but also drawn from members of the public in the Marlborough area.
“But I predict this year, we should have a full house.”
Moss Fallon, lawyers, and Waitrose are sponsoring the 8pm debate on July 17.
The event will be free to those attending the Summer School that week and open to the general public – entry £10 on the door.
For further information, contact the Summer School Office – 01672 892388 admin@mcsummerschool.org.uk
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