ONE of the BBC’s flagship political programmes is coming to Huddersfield.
Question Time which is led by David Dimbleby will be live from St Paul’s Hall next Thursday from 10.35pm.
The show, which includes an invited panel and audience discusses current news and political debate.
Next week’s panel has yet to be announced.
The BBC decided to choose the University of Huddersfield as a venue for the popular show after university public relations manager John Ramsdin wrote to producers in April suggesting St Paul’s Hall as a suitable venue.
William Marshall, who works at the university and is also studying for a PhD on the subject of Yorkshire identity, prepared a statement for BBC researchers saying why historically and politically Huddersfield would be an ideal choice. He cited its long and varied tradition of radicalism, from the local Luddites of the early 19th century to, later, Richard Oastler – a radical Tory – who was the spearhead of a campaign for factory reform.
The town was also a pioneering centre of Labour politics – a Huddersfield Labour Union was formed as early as 1891 and fielded candidates at local elections.
Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson was born in the area and the university commemorates him with a series of annual Harold Wilson Lectures which have been delivered by a distinguished series of speakers.
The university is also highly active in political research and has it established a unique Academy for the Study of Britishness.
