Local candidates to face business-led 'Question Time' on 25 March

Dover voters will be given the chance to quiz all of the candidates in the forthcoming General Election at a special hustings event organised by the county's biggest business group.

The Kent and Medway region of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has organised a hustings event on 25 March from 6-8pm, to give business owners and other interested people a chance to ask all the prospective candidates their views on issues relating to business.

The event, to be held at the Dover Marina Hotel, is part of the FSB's national campaign called #ibacksmallbusiness that is designed get all politicians signed up to show their support for the 99 per cent of private businesses in the UK which qualify as small or medium-sized enterprises.

On the night Charlie Elphicke MP, Conservative Party, will join a panel that will also feature other prospective candidates Clair Hawkins, Labour; Sarah Smith, Liberal Democrats; David Little, UKIP and Jolyon Trimingham, Green Party.

The Dover Express Editor Rebecca Smith with be chairing the event, which will be hosted by FSB's Kent and Medway Regional chairman Bill Fox. He said he hoped there would be a good turnout from local business people and other Dover and Deal voters.

"The small business community is the lifeblood of the Dover economy and that is why it is vital that all of those who seek to serve us are given the chance to talk about the issues that affect small businesses and the people who work for us.

"We think this will be an excellent opportunity to have a lively and informative debate where all those who attend will get to learn a little bit more about the policies of the parties and individuals who are standing for them, while also getting to know more about the candidates themselves. It should be a night to remember."

Places for the FSB Hustings event are limited. Anyone who wants to attend must register in advance by either going to www.fsb.org.uk/kentandmedway, emailing office.kent@fsb.org.uk or calling 01622 688 134.