TONIGHT’S edition of Question Time is set to take place in Sunderland – with SNP MP Kirsty Blackman and a UK minister who said oil and gas exploration in the North Sea would be "good for the environment" among those on the panel.
among those on the panel.
Last week, the show was broadcast from Cardiff, the Welsh capital. The key focus was the Welsh government’s recent decision to scrap major road-building projects.
Here’s a rundown of who is appearing on tonight’s show.
What time is Question Time on?
The show will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from 8pm and then broadcast live following the 10 o’clock news on BBC One.
Previous episodes, including one from Glasgow, are also available to view on the broadcaster’s streaming service.
Kirsty Blackman
Blackman is the current SNP spokesperson for the Cabinet Office and is a former SNP Westminster deputy leader.
She has represented Aberdeen North as an MP since 2015.
In May last year, Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced a windfall tax on the soaring profits of energy companies to pay for a series of measures that would help people with the cost of living crisis.
Blackman complained to the BBC that, “it feels very unfair that Scotland is having to pay for the entirety of the UK” as most of the tax revenue came from oil and gas income "made in Scotland”.
Jurgen Maier
Maier is the co-founder of vocL, a mentoring platform to promote young business leaders, and is the former CEO of Siemens UK, the technology and infrastructure manufacturer.
The British-Austrian businessman is also an industrialist and business adviseR.
He is currently vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Tom Harwood
Harwood is a presenter on GB News and has previously worked for the political website Guido Fawkes.
He is best known for running the student wing of Vote Leave during the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Jonathan Reynolds
Reynolds is currently the shadow secretary of state for business under Keir Starmer and was formely the shadow work and pensions secretary.
Reynolds supports both the idea of a universal basic income and the nationalisation of the UK rail networks.
He has represented Stalybridge and Hyde since 2010.
Graham Stuart
Formerly Minister for Europe, Stuart is now Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero.
In one of his first interviews in his new position, Stuart commented that oil and gas exploration in the North Sea would be "good for the environment".
He represents Beverley and Holderness and has done so since 2005.
