A MAY Day ‘Question Time’ event will pit political activists from all sides against each other in front of the public.

Bolton Trade Unions has organised the debate — featuring Labour MP for Bolton West Julie Hiling, Tory MEP Jacqueline Foster, Green party Euro candidate Laura Bannister and Jan Shortt, vice president of the National Pensioners Convenstion — on Thursday, May 1.

Andrew Egan, assistant secretary at Bolton Unison, said the event will give members of the public the chance to challenge those in power.

She added: “We should not forget that here in the North West ordinary men and women fought long and hard to secure the right to vote from the Peterloo Massacre through to the Chartists and the Suffragettes.

“With all that history, we should not take our democratic rights and freedoms for granted.

“Now that we are in the run up to local and European elections this year and a general election next year political discussion is really important.

“In Bolton we will have a panellists from different backgrounds and perspectives to hopefully ensure that we can facilitate a healthy level of debate in our town.”

Doors open at Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre at 6.30pm for members of the public to submit written questions. The debate will last from 7pm until 9pm, and entry is free.