BUCKS Free Press readers will have the chance to hear from the candidates vying for the hotly-contested seat of Wycombe at a free Question Time-style event.

Bucks New University, supported by this newspaper, has organised a hustings event to take place at the university on Monday, June 24.

Up to 200 members of the public will be able to register for the free-to-attend event and will have the opportunity to put their questions to candidates.

So far, confirmed candidates include Conservative and incumbent MP Steve Baker and Emma Reynolds, of Labour. The event will take place at the Gateway Lecture Theatre from 5.30pm to 7pm and everyone is invited to go along to hear what they have to say on the issues that are important to voters.

All candidates will be given the opportunity to set out their manifesto after which members of the audience will be invited to ask questions.

Professor Damien Page, deputy vice chancellor at the university, said: “We’re delighted to host the hustings because it’s important to us that we play our part in ensuring local people hear from their parliamentary candidates.

"We’ve also been encouraging our students to register to vote so they can participate actively in the political process.

“The hustings represent an excellent opportunity to hear from those standing from the various political parties, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our award-winning campus.”

Katie French, editor of the Bucks Free Press, said: “As a local newspaper, it’s our duty to inform readers about the people standing to represent their area.

“This is why in the run up to the election, as well as publishing an eight page special supplement with in-depth interviews and analysis in next week’s paper, we are co-organising this event to give our readers the opportunity to hear from the candidates after their votes in Wycombe.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for those standing to make their case known while also giving the public the forum to voice their concerns about local issues.”

The full list of candidates for High Wycombe is Steve Baker (Conservative), Emma Reynolds (Labour), Toni Brodelle (Lib Dem), Catherine Bunting (Green), Ed Gemmell (Climate), Khalil Ahmed (Workers Party of Britain), Richard Phoenix (Reform), Ajaz Rehman and Mark Smallwood (both independents).

The hustings will be chaired by Tim Marshall OBE, a Buckinghamshire-based former senior media executive who was head of BBC TV and senior vice president for TV production at Disney. Most recently, he was a council member at Buckinghamshire New University where he chaired the finance committee.

Anyone interested in attending the event must register to attend by 4pm on June 21 by visiting bit.ly/HWhustings.