LEADING prospective MEPs from across the political spectrum are to take part in a special European elections hustings event in North Yorkshire next week, the first to be held in the region.

The Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Change UK and the Yorkshire party have all agreed to put up prospective MEPs in what promises to be a keenly-contested debate over the region’s future outside – or inside – the EU. UKIP will also be represented. The Brexit party has been invited but there has been no response so far.

The event, on Wednesday, May 15 at Harrogate’s historic Wesley Centre, is being staged by North Yorkshire for Europe – but the debate will be chaired by an independent academic, Professor John Adams MBE. It is the first of three hustings in the Yorkshire and the Humber region next week.

Confirmed speakers for the Harrogate event are: Magid Magid, Lord Mayor of Sheffield and the Green Party’s number one candidate; Diana Wallace, for Change UK; Mike Jordan, for the Yorkshire Party; Shaffaq Mohammed for Lib Dems; and Ian Greenberg, chairman of UKIP’s Leeds branch. The Conservatives and Labour have both said they will put forward candidates.

North Yorkshire for Europe’s chair, Richard Sadler, said: “We’re delighted to have got such a positive response and to be able to provide a platform for so many of the top MEP candidates for this region.

“It’s already obvious that these elections, which many thought would never happen, are creating a great deal more interest than previous European Parliament elections. Everyone is welcome."

Tickets for the event, which is free of charge, can be booked at

https://bit.ly/2Va8BAC.