BIG General Election debate aims to inform voters

Residents of Stoke-on-Trent Central are being invited to hear from the candidates seeking election as the next constituency MP

Poster advertising BIG Stoke-on-Trent Central General Election event

The event will take place at Staffordshire University on Tuesday 25 June

“We have many students and staff living in the constituency but are also extending the invitation to people in our local community who would like to hear what the candidates have to say on the issues that matter most to them."

Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

Residents of Stoke-on-Trent Central are being invited to hear from the candidates seeking election as the next Member of Parliament for the constituency.

The BIG Stoke-on-Trent Central General Election Debate will take place on Staffordshire University’s main Stoke-on-Trent campus on Tuesday, June 25, as part of the University’s #GetElectionReady campaign which encourages students to register to vote in the forthcoming General Election.

Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Martin Jones will be part of the panel discussion and the debate will be chaired by the University’s Director of Communities and Commercial Engagement Martin Tideswell.

Professor Jones said: “The University has hosted similar events in the past and we see this as part of our outreach as a Civic University to inform voters living locally about their options.

“We have many students and staff living in the constituency but are also extending the invitation to people in our local community who would like to hear what the candidates have to say on the issues that matter most to them.

“To aid discussions we are asking attendees to submit questions about the issues they care about in advance by emailing Comms@staffs.ac.uk.”

Because the event is intended for people living in the constituency, tickets are limited to two per booking and all attendees will be asked to bring identification and proof of address on the evening.

Stoke-on-Trent Central has been represented by Conservative politician Jo Gideon since 2019. In February last year she announced she would be standing down at the General Election.

Confirmed Prospective Parliamentary Candidates for Stoke-on-Trent Central are: AliRom Alirom (Independent), Adam Colclough (Green), Navid Kaleem (Independent), Chandra Kanneganti (Conservative), Laura McCarthy (Liberal Democrats), Andy Polshaw (Independent), Luke Shenton (Reform UK) and Gareth Snell (Labour Co-op).

Following a review of constituency boundaries announced last year, people living in the following council wards will be eligible to vote in Stoke-on-Trent Central: Abbey Hulton; Basford and Hartshill; Bentilee, Ubberley and Townsend; Birches Head and Northwood; Boothen; Bucknall and Eaton Park; Etruria and Hanley; Fenton East; Fenton West and Mount Pleasant; Hanley Park, Joiner’s Square and Shelton; Hartshill Park and Stoke; Longton and Meir Hay South; Meir Hay North, Parkhall and Weston Coyney; Moorcroft and Sneyd Green; Penkhull and Springfields; Sandford Hill; Trent Vale and Oakhill.

Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in the General Election on July 4. If you don’t have accepted voter ID you can apply for a free voter ID document via The Electoral Commission website.

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