General Election Debate 2010

Members of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism will have the opportunity to quiz General Election candidates at a special debate beginning at 7pm on Friday 23 April- coincidentally St. George’s Day- at Weymouth College theatre. The independent Chairman will be Sue Moore, Principal of Weymouth College. A similar debate was held in May 2005 at Budmouth College. Considerable media interest is expected in this high-profile business hustings.

So far, the five known South Dorset candidates have been invited- Jim Knight [Labour,] Richard Drax [Conservative,] Ros Kayes [Liberal Democrat,] Mike Hobson [UK Independence Party] and Brian Heatley [Green.]

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

The debate is scheduled to last about 90 minutes, from 7pm to around 8.30pm. WPCCIT President Councillor Nigel Reed will introduce proceedings from the stage of Weymouth College theatre.

Candidates at the 2005 General Election Debate Organised by WPCC

“We are assuming the General Election will be on Thursday 6 May, as widely expected,” says WPCCIT Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins, “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’s debate.”

WPCCIT President Nigel Reed comments: “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. You tend not to have this opportunity after an election!”

Weymouth College Principal Sue Moore says: “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.”

If you have a question you would like to put to the panel of South Dorset candidates, send it by email to Chamber Secretary Michel Hooper-Immins or by post to him at WPCCIT, P. O. Box 3049, Weymouth. DT4 0YT. Priority will be given to questions pre-notified by WPCCIT members.