Students from across the region are being invited to put senior North East politicians to the test during a Question Time debating session at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Northumbria’s Student Debating Society is staging the event at the University on February 19.

Labour MP and former Cabinet member Rt Hon Nick Brown will be joined on the panel by Conservative prospective candidate Simon Kitchen, Lib Deb prospective candidate Wendy Taylor, UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott and prospective Green candidate for Newcastle, Alexander Johnson.

Topics for debate are likely to be wide ranging and cover key battleground themes expected to dominate the General Election in May. They are also set to include areas of specific interest to students.

Final year law student and President of Northumbria University Debating Society Ria Wilkinson said: “For many students this General Election will be their first as registered voters – so whatever your political persuasion this is a perfect opportunity to put searching questions to some of the region’s key politicians. The Question Time approach, with the panel we have assembled promises to be an illuminating, fascinating and at times perhaps controversial and passionate.

“I would urge any student with any interest in debating or politics to come along, and to The participate with questions of their own.”

The Question Time debate is being held at Newcastle Business School on Thursday 19 February. For more information on how to register and post a question please e:mail ria.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk