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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Daniel Byron

Question Time: Who's on tonight as Ash Sarkar and Nick Ferrari set to face-off

TONIGHT'S edition of Question Time on the BBC will be broadcast live from Bexhill-on-Sea, down in South East England – where John Logie Baird lived in his last few years.

Hosted by Fiona Bruce, it'll be on your TV screens (or iPlayer) after the News at 10 and Reporting Scotland.

Below is a list of everybody that is taking part in the debate.

Helen Whately

Helen Whately has been a Tory MP, for Faversham and Mid Kent, since 2015. After studying philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, Whately went on to work in the private sector in finance and marketing.

She later became involved in politics, working for the Conservative Party as a deputy chairman and campaigning in local elections.

In 2020, Whately was appointed as Minister of State for Social Care in the Department of Health and Social Care. 

Thangam Debbonaire

The Labour MP (who describes herself as a "northern European socialist – a democratic socialist" who supports "fettered capitalism" – was first elected in 2015). She represents the area of Bristol West and is the shadow leader of the House of Commons.

On her constituency website, it explains: "She started out as a professional cellist, but for 25 years before becoming an MP her main focus was working to end domestic violence.

"She was Women’s Aid’s first-ever national children’s officer, setting up support projects in refuges across the UK for children. In this work she helped everyone involved in the cycle of domestic violence: women, men and children; victims, perpetrators and witnesses."

Rev Richard Coles

He had quite a dramatic career change from an 80s rock and roller with The Communards ... to being a vicar.

Before becoming a reverend in the Church of England, he had written for the Catholic Times and Times Literary Supplement – then converted to Anglicanism.

He was parish priest for Mary the Virgin in Finedon, Northamptonshire, in 2011 and retired just after Easter 2022.

Nick Ferrari

LBC Radio presenter, Nick Ferrari is a conservative radio host with a regular column in the Sunday Express.

He was born on February 13, 1959, in London, England, and began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Sunday Mirror.

Ferrari went on to work as a newsreader and presenter for various British radio stations, including LBC and Capital Radio. He currently hosts the morning show on LBC, where he engages in lively debates and interviews with politicians, celebrities, and experts on a range of topics.

Outside of his radio work, Ferrari is also a regular contributor to newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. He has written on a variety of subjects, from politics and current affairs to entertainment and lifestyle.

Ash Sarkar

The National: Novara Media contributing editor, Ash Sarkar will be on the showNovara Media contributing editor, Ash Sarkar will be on the show (Image: Newsquest)

Ash Sarkar is the contributing editor of Novara Media, which is a left-wing alternative news outlet in the UK. It was founded in 2011 by James Butler and Aaron Bastani, who met during the UK tuition fee protests.

Sarkar rose to prominence in 2017 after a fiery interview with Piers Morgan on the UK morning show Good Morning Britain, during which she criticised Donald Trump's promotion of far-right propaganda.

Since then, she has become a regular commentator on British news programs, offering insightful analysis and sharp critique of government policy and societal issues.

Sarkar has written for a range of publications, including The Guardian, The Independent, and The New Statesman, covering topics such as feminism, racism, and socialism.

She has also published a book, titled "Can We All Be Feminists?", which explores the intersectionality of feminism and the importance of diverse voices in the movement.

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