The candidates hoping to earn the opportunity to represent Sutton and Cheam in the House of Commons have agreed to lock horns in a series of public debates hosted by the Sutton Guardian.

Incumbent MP Paul Burstow of the Liberal Democrats will be joined on the stage by Paul Scully (Conservatives) Emily Brothers (Labour) Angus Dalgleish (UKIP) Maeve Tomlinson (Green) and David Ash (NHA) for three Question Time-style evenings, chaired by Sutton Guardian assistant editor Nick Hitchens.

The first of these will be held at Sutton Sports Village, Rose Hill Park, on November 13, from 8pm.

The later two will be held next year in February and March in Cheam and Worcester Park. Questions will be taken from members of the public, with the first event carrying a main topic of health.

The general election in May 2015 looks to be one of the most open in recent history as both Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs gear up for a fight following a difficult time for the UK as it emerges from recession.

Despite this, polls suggests Labour has not made huge gains, the issue of Scottish independence has raised questions of how MPs north of the border will fare and UKIP has had a surge in popularity, culminating in the recent victory in the Clacton byelection.

At a local level the Liberal Democrat council bucked the national trend by making gains this May, but will this be replicated at the ballot box next year?

Sutton Debates is designed to allow readers to put questions to those hoping to represent them.

The Sutton Guardian is indebted to Andy Cook, who stood as a Labour candidate in the recent local elections for his work in helping make these debates happen, as well as Sutton Sports Village owner Keith Sohl for the use of his venue.

Thanks also go to Nonsuch School for Girls and Christ Church with St Philip, which both offered to host next year’s debates.

Sutton Debates take place at Sutton Sports Village, Rose Hill Park, Sutton, on November 13, at 8pm. Doors open at 7.30pm. The capacity is limited to 120 people on a first-come-first-serve basis.