Question Time LIVE: World War 3? UK to crack down on volatile Putin behaviour? Join debate
QUESTION Time is being broadcast from Dover this week, on the panel is the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Labour Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, actor Brian Cox, RT presenter Afshin Rattansi and the Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness.
The massive frosting of relations between the UK and Russia will surely be the highlight of the show
11.46pm: That’s all for this week
Question Time has finished - the show will be taking place in Leeds next week and Liverpool the week after.
11.37pm: The final question of the show has been posed.
A member of the audience questioned: “Will the garden of England become the lorry park of England after Brexit?”
11.25pm: Keir Starmer declares that the UK will “trade with the EU in the future”.
The Labour Party member emphasised that relations with the European Union need to continue for Britain after Brexit.
11.17pm: The fourth question of the night has been asked.
A member of the audience said: “Jean-Claude Jucker again said this week that Britain will regret leaving the EU. With this continuing and threatening rhetoric, how does Britain hope to strike any positive deal if the EU seem unwilling to cooperate?”
.@MaireadMcGMEP hits back at @afshinrattansi over his suggestion that the EU is threatening peace in Ireland over Brexit #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/23m23NcN1I
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
11.15pm: The third question of the night has been asked.
A member of the audience said: “Would the security of the UK be safe in Jeremy Corbyn’s hands if he became prime minister?”
"When you have two narcissists like Trump and Putin we're in a very unhealthy state of affairs"
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
Brian Cox says it is inevitable that we are heading towards another Cold War #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/3yApSa7UJm
11.12pm: Afshin Rattansi warns that “Putin could turn off the lights in this studio right now”.
The RT presenter issued the stark warning and added that Theresa May “appears to want a new Cuban missile crisis”.
Chris Grayling said he feels 'deeply uncomfortable' about the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister ensuring the security of the UK #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/hmPMyOmK8y
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
11.09pm: Keir Starmer said there was a “missed opportunity” at the end of the Cold War to develop better relations with Russia.
Chris Grayling added that the UK has to make sure that another incident similar to the one that happened in Salisbury should be prevented at all costs.
"Do you understand anything about the customs union and the single market?" @MaireadMcGMEP questions Afshin Rattansi's knowledge on trade in Europe #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/l4LonI9QQA
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
11.05pm: The second question of the show has been asked.
A member of the audience said: “Does the panel feel we have now entered a new Cold War?”
Our second question asks just how serious the situation is between the UK and Russia has become #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/Bhfk7jpmvE
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
11.03pm: Afshin Rattansi argues with member of the audience over Russia responsibility
Mr Rattansi told a member of the audience to not be so certain that Russia is behind the poisoning.
10.55pm: Afshin Rattansi makes shocking claims
Mr Rattansi declared that “we cannot believe our governments anymore” following the incident in Salisbury.
He stated: We cannot believe our governments anymore the way we used to just because the Prime Miniser sands up and says ‘the security services have told us’.”
10.53pm: Arguments erupt after Afshin Rattansi talks of MP walkout
Keir Starmer declared that he had heard nothing of an MP walkout on Question Time.
.@afshinrattansi does not believe there is any certainty that Russia was responsible for the attack in Salisbury #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/F2Y2lTVuYe
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
10.47pm: Question Time has begun and the first question has been asked
A member of the audience asked: “How certain are you that the Salisbury attack is beyond doubt the responsibility of the Russian state?”
.@Keir_Starmer says the attack in Salisbury should be "condemned by all of us without reservation" and backs the actions taken by the Prime Minister #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/Kcpfmz8v4E
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
10.32pm: Russia’s Salisbury poisoning confirmed as a topic of discussion
Afshin Rattansi tweeted that the poising of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter will be discussed on Question Time.
He posted: “I’ll be on BBC question time this evening to discuss the Salisbury poisoning.”
What might be asked tonight?
The massive frosting of relations between the UK and Russia will surely be the highlight of the show.
This week Theresa May issued Russia with an ultimatum to explain itself following the alleged use of a military-grade nerve agent on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
The Kremlin ignored the request and forced Mrs May to announce the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomat as part of a range of measures that will send a strong signal to Vladimir Putin.
It has been confirmed that the poisoning of Sergei Skripal will be discussed on the show
Brexit is also another topic that is set to be thrown into the mix and may be linked to the current Kremlin tensions - questions of British isolation could be asked following its departure from the EU.
The death of famed physicist Steven Hawking may also be highlighted - the 76-year old mastermind died on Wednesday.
Who is Chris Grayling?
Christ Grayling is the Conservative Transport Secretary and was responsible for running Theresa May’s leadership campaign after the resignation of David Cameron in 2016.
He has been the MP for Epsom and Ewell since 2001.
Chris Grayling says the government 'will not in any circumstances create a hard border in Dover' after the UK leaves the EU #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/BHW4Wm70AQ
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) March 15, 2018
Who is Keir Starmer?
Keir Starmer is Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary and was previously the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.
Mr Starmer was elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015.
Who is Brian Cox?
Brian Cox is an award-winning actor who has appeared in well-known films such as Braveheart and the Bourne Identity.
He is a member of the Scottish National Party.
This week Theresa May issued Russia with an ultimatum to explain itself
Who is Afshin Rattansi?
Afshin Rattansi is the presenter of RT’s Going Underground show and has previously worked for the BBC, Al Jazeera and Press TV.
Chris Grayling was responsible for running Theresa May’s leadership campaign
Who is Mairead McGuinness?
Mairead McGuinness is the Vice President of the European Parliament and has been an Irish MEP since 2004.
Before her political work, she was a journalist.