YOUR chance to quiz Preston's politicians in big local election debate
Preston's political leaders - and their policies - will go under the microscope ahead of the local elections
Preston residents are to get a chance to grill the political leaders whose parties will be battling it out at next month’s local elections.
They will be able to put the politicians on the spot during a hustings debate ahead of the Preston City Council poll.
The event – co-hosted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Lancashire Post, Blog Preston and the Lancashire Lead – will take place at the Cotton Court Business Centre, on Church Street, on Monday 27th April between 7pm and 9pm.
This year’s election in Preston is a momentous one, as it marks the last time a vote will be held for the city council before its abolition in 2028, as part of a Lancashire-wide shake-up. That means voters will be shaping the authority’s political make-up during what will be its final days.
The debate will be attended by the five parties that are contesting all 16 town hall seats up for grabs in May – the Conservatives, the Green Party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.
If you would like to quiz them on an issue that matters to you, register for a place and you could be asking a question in person on the night – or hearing it answered as part of a group of themed questions that the hustings host will be putting to the panel. If you cannot attend, you are still welcome to submit a question - just leave it in the comments below or beneath the link to this story on our Facebook page.
Before you do, it might be worth checking out exactly what local services Preston City Council is responsible for. The authority does not, for instance, deal with the roads, social care or schools, which are all controlled by Lancashire County Council.
The services Preston looks after can be found by clicking here to find a list of ‘district council’ responsibilities, highlighted in green.
Places at the hustings are limited and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, but the event will be live-streamed.
To reserve a place and/or submit a question, register here.
A flavour of the debate will be published ahead of polling day on Thursday 7th May.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
What? Preston City Council election hustings 2026
Where? Cotton Court Business Centre, Church Street, Preston, PR1 3BY (free on-site parking is available)
When? Monday 27th April – doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
How to register: click here.
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