University to host West Mids Mayoral Debate

The University of Wolverhampton is to host a “Question Time” style debate featuring the candidates for the West Midlands Mayoral Election.

The event will be the only one of its kind taking place in Wolverhampton in the lead up to the region going to the polls to vote for its inaugural Mayor on May 4 2017.

Candidates taking part in the debate, which is being hosted by the University in partnership with West Midlands Combined Universities, will be:

• James Burn (Green Party)
• Peter Durnell (UKIP)
• Beverley Nielsen (Liberal Democrat)
• Sion Simon (Labour)
• Andy Street (Conservative)

The debate, which will be hosted and chaired by broadcaster Adrian Goldberg, will be staged in the Chancellor’s Hall, Wulfruna Building, City Campus, Wolverhampton on Monday 24 April between 6:30pm and 8pm.

The event is free but if you want to attend you must book a ticket through the University’s Eventbrite page. Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis and guests are being encouraged to submit questions in advance to be put to the candidates on the night.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are delighted to be able to host such an important event in the build up to the election for the region’s first Mayor.

“As a University we want to encourage and engage in democratic debate and to challenge ideas and the new Mayor will be responsible for major decisions on behalf of the region.

“It is important for our students and staff to engage in democracy in this way but we are also part of our local community and are proud to be opening our doors so the people of Wolverhampton have the opportunity to hear from the candidates and have their say too.”

The new Mayor will head up the West Midlands Combined Authority which represents the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton and seven local authority areas in the area.

The successful candidate will have devolved powers from central government to oversee transport, housing, economic policy and skills. Controlling a potential budget worth billions of pounds, the Mayor will be the voice of the West Midlands in Whitehall.

For more information on the elections visit www.wmcaelects.co.uk/

ENDS

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003.

Date Issued: Monday 3 April 2107