QUESTION Time is set to take place in Birmingham this evening with plenty of topics to be discussed.
New anti-strike legislation and the NHS crisis are likely to be the main topics of discussion for the BBC show hosted by Fiona Bruce.
Among the guests are Ash Sarkar, a British journalist who has lectured at universities across Europe.
Here’s all you need to know about Sarkar and tonight’s show.
What time is Question time on?
Audiences can tune into the show from 8pm on BBC iPlayer. It will then be broadcast on BBC One after the 10 o’clock news.
Who is Ash Sarkar?
Sarkar is a senior editor at Novara Media – an independent media organisation which addresses the issues that are “set to define the 21st century”.
This includes the “crisis of capitalism” as well as racism and climate change.
She has lectured in political theory at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam.
As well as this, Sarkar has written for a variety of publications, including a piece for The Guardian in 2018 titled: “The colonial past is another country. Let’s leave Boris Johnson there.”
Prior to tonight’s programme, she joked about the photo the social media editor had chosen to promote her appearance on the show.
Sarkar said: “You know who deserves a raise? The social media manager who chose a photo where I look like I’ve just been acquitted of a crime that I most certainly committed.”
You know who deserves a raise? The social media manager who chose a photo where I look like I've just been acquitted of a crime that I most certainly committed. https://t.co/xe4xBmFMur
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) January 12, 2023
She is also currently writing a book on class, culture and modern politics.
What are her politics?
A Times profile on Sarkar has described her as a “radical left-wing commentator” and “Jeremy Corbyn champion”.
She called for the national anthem to be replaced with a “grime banger” and describes herself on Twitter as a “Literature bore. Anarcho-fabulous. Muslim. THFC. Kebab aficionado. Luxury communism now!”
Piers Morgan clash
Sarkar was once involved in a fiery clash with Piers Morgan while he was still host of Good Morning Britain.
While campaigning for the Stop Trump Coalition, which protested the then US-president’s visit to the UK, Sarkar was accused of not caring about Barack Obama’s record on deportation.
Despite repeatedly telling Morgan she was not a fan of Trump’s predecessor, Morgan told her to “go and check out some basic facts on your hero Obama".
She replied: “He’s not my hero! I’m a communist, you idiot.”
Which politicians are on tonight’s programme?
Two MPs are set to appear on tonight’s Question Time. One of them is Alex Chalk, who has been the Conservative MP for Cheltenham since 2015.
He currently works as a minster at the Ministry of Defence and is a former barrister.
Also appearing on the show is shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson, who has served as the MP for Houghton and Sunderland South since 2010.
Prior to her current role, she served as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.
Who else is on Question Time?
Also appearing on the show is Anna Soubry, who served as the minister of state for small business, industry and enterprise under David Cameron.
She was the Conservative MP for Broxtowe from 2010 to 2019 but left the party to join Change UK.
The pro-EU party was founded in February 2019 but dissolved just 10 months later.
Soubry was succeeded by Darren Henry as the MP for Broxtowe at the 2019 General Election.
