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The final TV debate ahead of Thursday’s general election will see only voters aged under 30 allowed to participate. The panel also features younger party members, with Nigel Farage being the oldest political figure – and only Brexiteer – to take the stage. Fiona Bruce will not be hosting tonight’s event, instead Radio 5 presenter Emma Barnett will front the debate, held at the University of York.
Tonight’s episode will be Question Time’s first youth special and political parties have hand-picked delegates they believe will best appeal to young Britons.
The panel includes SNP Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, 34, who became the youngest person to ever hold a cabinet position in the Scottish Government in 2012, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, 39 and Tory Housing Minister Robert Jenrick – who voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
Representing the parties who have openly backed staying in the EU are Plaid Cyrmu leader Adam Price, 51, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, 39m and Green Party’s co-leader Jonathan Bartley, 48.
Nigel Farage, 55, will also join the panel as the only Brexiteer.
But social media users have hit at the BBC for hosting the special under-30s special, claiming it shows clear electoral bias in favour of the Labour Party.
One person wrote: “It is generally agreed that those under 30 are more likely to be left [socialist] thinking than right [conservative].
“How then three days before an election can BBC Question Time broadcast a ’special edition’ for this young age group and retain impartiality?”
Another person asked: “So why are #bbcquestiontime having an under 30s special?
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Another user accused the BBC of “discrimination” for leaving out older voters.
They wrote: “Why is this just for under 30. You do not have an over 30 special.
“This is direct discrimination and a total disgrace.”
Similarly another person asked: “Where is the over 50’s edition?”
Another branded the move to host a younger panel as “wrong on every level”.
They wrote: “I think this is wrong again, the BBC needs to know we all pay a TV licence and the older generation pay more tax, so wrong on every level.
But one person defended the young person special, and wrote: “This one is tailored to an audience and demographic that doesn’t usually engage in voting as seen by the lower numbers.
“The policies and discussions will also be focused towards what younger voters are looking to discuss.”
The debate will air on BBC1 at 8.30pm tonight.
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