SNP MP Alyn Smith will appear on the BBC’s flagship political debate show Question Time tonight as it is broadcast from Liverpool.
The programme's panel includes three Conservative voices, one Labour MP and an SNP representative.
As well as Tory MP Lucy Frazer – who is known for making a joke about Scottish slaves in the House of Commons – the panel features Conservative Home columnist Emily Carver and former chief press officer for Downing Street Mo Hussein.
Smith and Labour shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell will be hoping to get their points across as they go up against the right-wing representatives.
The main topics likely to arise during Thursday’s show will be the ever-worsening cost-of-living crisis, the closure of the partygate inquiry and the continuing debate over a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
Who is Lucy Frazer?
Tory MP for South East Cambridgeshire and Solicitor General Lucy Frazer is best known for her gag about sending Scots to the “colonies” as slaves, made during her 2015 maiden speech at the House of Commons.
In November 2021, it was claimed that Frazer had a conflict of interest regarding a contract held by her husband's company to supply temporary staff to government departments.
Who is Emily Carver?
Emily Carver is a Conservative Home columnist and head of media at the Institute of Economic Affairs.
As the name suggests, Conservative Home is a right-wing blog which supports the Conservative party. Carver has also presented on programmes for GB News.
Who is Mo Hussein?
Mo Hussein is a former chief press officer for 10 Downing Street and a former special advisor to the UK Home Office.
He now describes himself as a political commentator and broadcaster, having written for publications including Conservative Home and The Times Red Box.
Who is Lucy Powell?
Labour MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell, is the shadow culture secretary, having been an MP since 2012 and a member of the Labour party since she was 15.
Who is Alyn Smith?
Alyn Smith is the SNP MP for Stirling and a regular columnist for The National. In 2004, he was elected as Scotland's youngest Member of the European Parliament (MEP) but had to give up this post when elected as MP in 2019.
