Chance to quiz mayoral candidates in debates

THE West Midlands mayoral election is a make or break watershed for our fortunes and future prosperity – and the Birmingham Post is backing a series of public debates ahead of the vote.

All five declared candidates – James Burn (Green), Pete Durnell (UKIP), Beverley Nielsen (Lib Dem), Siôn Simon (Lab) and Andy Street (Con) – have agreed to attend the four crucial debates in the run up to the May 4 election.

And Birmingham Post readers will be able to join the audience and fire questions at those fighting for the votes or follow the hustings online at home.

The debates are being led by the region’s three leading newspapers the Birmingham Post & Mail, the Coventry Telegraph and the Express & Star and are organised by Urban Communications.

Marc Reeves, Editor-in-Chief of Trinity Mirror Midlands, which publishes the Post & Mail, said: “The election of the mayor of the West Midlands is the most important vote for the region since Brexit.

“The new mayor will have an enormous amount of power, and it’s vital all those who want the post are put through the most rigorous job interview possible.

“These debates are an important part of that and we’ll be helping our readers put the candidates on the spot.”

Alexandra Jones, chief executive of the think tank Centre for Cities, said: “The new metro mayor will have a great opportunity to make a big difference on the issues that matter most to people living across the West Midlands, including improving housing, jobs and transport.

“These events are a really important chance for voters across the area to find out more about what the different candidates want to achieve if they become mayor, and how they plan to go about it.”

A great many voters, are not yet aware of the election, what it means or what the first West Midlands Mayor will and will not be able to do.

But this powerful figure could transform the region – and these debates will be part of a wide ranging campaign to put the Birmingham Post’s readers in the picture. The debates are: Tuesday, March 7: The Workers Institute, Black Country Living Museum;

Wednesday, March 22: Coventry Cathedral;

Tuesday, April 4 : Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome;

Sunday, April 23: Vox Conference Centre, Resorts World Birmingham, NEC Campus;

The first three are early evening events and the final one will be during the day. Ticket details will be published at a later date.