On Monday night at Jesmond Library, JesmondLocal presents its annual hustings event, allowing residents of North and South Jesmond to meet, greet, and put questions to those seeking to represent their views in local council elections on May 22nd.

The event begins at 7pm with a pre-show asking local representatives what issues are important, and from 7:45pm the candidates from all five parties standing for election this year in Jesmond will be quizzed by JesmondLocal‘s editor-in-chief, Ian Wylie, and you, Jesmond’s populace.

It’s a rare opportunity to meet all candidates ahead of the election, and to ask them in detail their stance on what matters to you: from the future of Acorn Road, to the interaction between students and older residents, policing and crime, business and leisure.

All topics are up for debate, and it promises to be a lively evening of political debate about the issues that directly affect you, your family, and your friends.

“From the eighteenth century […] British elections demanded that politicians, however mighty, should humble themselves before open and decidedly irreverent meetings of their constituents,” wrote Jon Lawrence in a book chronicling the history of the political hustings debate.

It’s a unique tradition, and one that we aim to continue. For the next several years, the two people who win the popular vote on May 22nd will be a major representative for Jesmond at local council level, addressing your issues, concerns and queries. As Jesmond residents, you have an important decision to make, and it’s one that should be well-informed.

Learn more about the candidates standing in North and South Jesmond via our profiles, viewable on the left hand side of your screen, and ask them questions that matter to you by attending our live hustings debate on Monday night at Jesmond Library, beginning at 7:45pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

JesmondLocal will be hosting a Question Time-style hustings debate with the candidates for election in North and South Jesmond on Monday May 19th at Jesmond Library, from 7:45pm.

If you can’t get along to this evening’s meeting, you’ll be able to follow the debate as we live-blog it: