With the 2024 general election just two weeks away, Express FM is putting Portsmouth candidates in the spotlight as we prepare to broadcast two hustings and a live election night special.
We've teamed up with the Politics Society, based at Portsmouth High School, to broadcast highlights from two general election hustings - one featuring the candidates standing in Portsmouth North (broadcast Monday 24 June at 6pm), and the other with those standing in Portsmouth South (broadcast Friday 28 June at 6pm).
The format is an open, free-flowing, balanced debate, with each candidate being offered the same amount of time to respond to questions put by members of the audience. The proceedings are chaired by Dr. Graham Goodlad, teacher of A-level politics at Portsmouth High School.
On election night in July, from 10pm on the 4th until 6:30am on the 5th, Harrison RB, Dan Lodge and James Birdseye will present live coverage of the results as they come in on Pompey At The Polls with facts, opinions and analysis from a team of pundits and reporters, both in the studio and at local counts.
Express FM's Content Manager, Harrison RB, said: "It's always vital to reflect the national debate and hold senior politicians in positions, or potential positions, of power to account and it is equally important for a strong local media to do the same on a smaller scale. We, the electorate, have a right to know who we're voting for so we can make an informed decision.
"We're very grateful to Portsmouth High School for facilitating these hustings, focusing on the issues that matter to people in the city, and for enabling Express FM to extend their reach by broadcasting some of the key discussions in the run-up to polling day.
"As for election night, I don't think anyone is pretending it isn't going to be very interesting and there will be a lot to unpack nationally. Pompey At The Polls will, of course, be delving into it all but we want to shine a light on our local constituencies and have some fun along the way too."
Dates for your diary
- Portsmouth North General Election Hustings highlights: Monday 24 June, 6pm-7pm | on Express FM
- Portsmouth South General Election Hustings highlights: Friday 28 June, 6pm-7pm | on Express FM
- Pompey At The Polls (election night extravaganza): Thursday 4 July, 10pm-6:30am (5 July) | on Express FM
Portsmouth North candidates
- Amanda Martin - Labour
- Duncan Robinson - The Green Party
- Mel Todd - Reform UK
- Penny Mordaunt - The Conservative Party
- Simon Dodd - Liberal Democrats
Portsmouth South candidates
- Charlie Murphy - Liberal Democrats
- Elliot Lee - The Green Party
- Jacob Short - The Portsmouth Independent Party
- Mark Zimmer - Reform UK
- Signe Biddle - The Conservative Party
- Stephen Morgan - Labour
