Ahead of the 2015 election, BFBS Radio’s Sitrep programme and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) are holding a unique debate to discuss defence issues
Sitrep anchor, Kate Gerbeau, will chair the debate while senior spokesmen from the main parties answer questions from a live audience at RUSI in Whitehall.
The event will be broadcast on Friday 24th April, on BFBS Radio and BFBS UK Bases at 6pm (UK), on BFBS Radio 2 at 7pm (UK), and simulcast on Forces TV, also at 7pm (UK).
Director General of RUSI, Professor Michael Clarke, will also give expert analysis on issues raised by the audience made up of RUSI members, former servicemen, and representatives of defence support organisations.
The panel will include: Mark Francois, current Minister for the Armed Forces and former Royal Anglian Regiment reservist; Vernon Coaker, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Defence; and Liberal Democrat Sir Bob Russell, a member of the Defence Select Committee during the last Parliament.
Keith Brown, MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, and a former Royal Marine – will represent the SNP, and UKIP’s Vice Chair and author of the party’s 2015 manifesto, Suzanne Evans, will also be on the panel. In addition, the debate will include contributions from the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.
And on Thursday 7th May, listeners worldwide can follow election-day events as they unfold via forces news bulletins on the hour, every hour, on BFBS Radio.
Presenter, Richard Hatch, will also host an ‘Election Special’ on BFBS Radio from 6.30- 10am (UK) on Friday 8th May. He’ll be joined by David Spencer with the latest results to discuss what the 2015 election and the new government will mean for defence.
BFBS Radio is available on DAB digital radio in the UK, on FM in the UK, on FM across the Forces world, on Sky Channel 0211, Freesat Channel 786, online atwww.bfbs.com and via the free BFBS smartphone app.
BFBS Radio 2 is on FM across the Forces world and available via BFBS set top boxes. Selected programmes can be heard online atwww.bfbs.com
Forces TV is on Sky Channel 264, Virgin 244 and Freesat 652.