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Weekly stages election debate in Speaker's seat

A weekly newspaper is staging a head-to-head debate involving Commons Speaker John Bercow and the five candidates hoping to unseat him at the election.

Traditionally, the Speaker’s seat remains uncontested at general elections but the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ has gone by the board this time round in the wake of mounting anger over the MPs’ expenses scandal.

Mr Bercow is facing a tough challenge in his Buckingham constituency from former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, while the British National Party and three other independent candidates have also thrown their hats into the ring.

Now the Bucks Herald has organised a public debate between all the candidates in what promises to be one of the most fiercely contested seats in the country.

The event, to be held at Buckingham University on 26 April will be chaired by Lord Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire and former BBC journalist, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, and free tickets are already being snapped up.

Bucks Herald editor, Ellen Campbell, said: “We’re really keen on getting the public as involved in our debate as possible.

“This election is set to be one of the most unpredictable in years and, with John Bercow cutting quite a controversial figure over the past few months, many eyes will be on Buckingham to see if the Speaker retains his seat.

“I have no doubt there will be some very tough questions from the audience and some lively debate among the candidates.”

Comments

T. R. Morgan (09/04/2010 10:01:45)
The Bucks Herald is hopelessly biased in favour of the disgraced Bercow. Some of their election coverage has been unbelievably amateurish. Let us hope they make a better job of organising this debate.