JesmondLocal will host its annual hustings event – where residents have the chance to quiz the candidates for North and South Jesmond’s council elections – on Tuesday, May 3rd at 1901 Caffe Bistro on St George’s Terrace.

Who, what, where, when and why?

The hustings is an opportunity for debate among the candidates, chaired by JesmondLocal journalists. Doors open at 7pm, with the debate beginning at 7.45pm. All candidates standing for council seats in North and South Jesmond have been invited to attend.

Covering local politics and issues is an important part of JesmondLocal’s service to the community. To be able to cast their vote intelligently, the people of Jesmond need to know as much as possible about the candidates and their policies.

The hustings will also be live blogged and tweeted so that local people who can’t make it in person can follow the questions and answers from home.

Putting questions to the candidates

The annual event is the only local election hustings held in Jesmond by a media outlet, and residents are welcome to attend as members of the audience. If you have questions or issues you feel should be raised as part of the discussion, please email editor@jesmondlocal.com, or tweet us @JesmondLocal.

‘The people’s panel’ of undecided voters

Additionally, this year we will be hosting a pre-hustings discussion with a panel of half-a-dozen undecided voters, quizzing them on the issues they believe are important to sway their vote, and asking them throughout the evening whether they have been won over by any one candidate. Our politics correspondent Imogen Scott-Chambers is looking to find undecided voters who would be interested in participating, and can be contacted at imogen@jesmondlocal.com, or by tweeting @imjmsc.

Jesmond’s people’s manifesto

What are the main issues you feel need to be addressed in Jesmond by elected officials? Our correspondent James Mackay has pounded the streets to ask residents ahead of the hustings what issues will make them cast their vote. We’ll be showing the result at the beginning of the hustings.