May 4, 2015 9.45 am This story is over 114 months old

Final countdown begins to The Lincoln Debate

Tune in: Lincoln votes can tonight tune in to a historic debate programme between the candidates vying to become the city’s next MP.

Candidates vying to become the next Member of Parliament for Lincoln will tonight answer questions from the city’s electors in a historic debate programme.

The Lincoln Debate will be simulcast through a live video stream and on FM radio from 7.30pm, in a unique collaboration between The Lincolnite, The Lincolnshire Echo and BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

From the LPAC on the University of Lincoln campus, the candidates will answer questions from the 250-strong audience.

The debate will be chaired by BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Melvyn Prior, assisted by Nicola Gilroy.

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To date, five MP candidates have accepted invitations to attend the debate programme. They are:

  • Ross Pepper for Liberal Democrats
  • Helen Powell for Lincolnshire Independents
  • Lucy Rigby for Labour
  • Elaine Smith for the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)
  • Nick Smith for the UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Conservative candidate Karl McCartney has not accepted to join the debate, citing concerns over the venue location and the date of the debate.

The organisers of the programme have said that Karl McCartney is still welcome to join up until the start of the event.

Throughout the debate, readers of The Lincolnite will – alongside watching the live streamed video – be able to follow coverage via a comprehensive liveblog.

People can have their say and get involved in the programme by using #LincolnDebate.

Also, take a look at our Elections 2015 hub for all the latest politics news in the days before the local and parliamentary elections on May 7.