Business leaders to host General Election debate in Weymouth

8:00pm Wednesday 17th March 2010

By James Tourgout

BUSINESS figures will be posing questions for an election debate at Weymouth College on April 23.

The Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce is holding the event for candidates in the General Election.

It will be held at 7pm in the Weymouth College theatre with principal Sue Moore acting as the independent chairman.

He said: “This type of event is an important part of the democratic process for businesses, as their success is crucial to the local economy.

“It will be interesting to see what each candidate and their party are offering, to convince people in business that they are the right party to govern.

So far, the five known South Dorset candidates have been invited. They are Jim Knight of Labour, Richard Drax of the Conservatives, Ros Kayes from the Liberal Democrats, Mike Hobson of the UK Independence Party and Brian Heatley of the Green party.

Chamber members will be invited to suggest questions in advance, to be put to the panel of politicians.

As Swanage is part of the South Dorset constituency, members of Swanage Chamber of Trade and Commerce have been invited to join Weymouth and Portland members at the event. Local businesspeople who are not chamber members are welcome to attend as part of the audience.

Chamber secretary Michel Hooper-Immins said: “We are assuming the General Election will be on Thursday, May 6, as widely expected.

“But if that’s not the case, the date of our debate will certainly have to be altered.

“I am most grateful to Sue Moore for her public spiritedness in offering the Weymouth College theatre and for agreeing to chair what I am sure will be a very interesting hour and a half debate.”

Mrs Moore added: “Weymouth College is delighted to be selected by the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce to host this important and prestigious event.

“It will be an excellent opportunity to get the South Dorset candidates together to focus on the real issues which will affect us over the life of the next parliament.

“It will also provide the right atmosphere for our students to understand the political issues of the day and to get involved in the organisation of this influential debate.”