Who is on Question Time tonight and where do they stand on Brexit? Here’s your guide…
The BBC’s flagship current affairs programme tonight comes from Reading’s Concert Hall, which later this year hosts An Evening With Sir Michael Parkinson. He was attacked by Emu – but how likely are tonight’s panel to attack the EU? Here’s who you can expect…
Damian Hinds
Who? Education secretary
Where is he on Brexit? Firm Remain campaigner who was “very disappointed” by the referendum result but quickly switched to “focus[sing] all energies on getting the best possible outcome for Britain”
Has remained pretty schtum on the subject since being appointed to education, where he is quietly getting on with his job (including, most controversially, Theresa May’s arcane obsession with grammar schools). A liberal catholic who attracted the wrath of his local bishop when he voted in favour of gay marriage, he is well respected by colleagues, widely seen as boring by journalists and pretty much unknown to the public. Tipped in some circles, including his predecessor in the role Michael Gove, as the left’s standard-bearer in a potential future leadership contest – if you fancy a flutter, he beat Brexiteer-in-chief Jacob Rees-Mogg to the Oxford Union presidency in 1991. Basically this evening’s nightwatchman.
Baroness Chakrabarti
Who? Shadow attorney general
Where is she on Brexit? Campaigned to Remain but has since said there is no going back and that Labour’s priorities are “jobs and the economy”
The former director of civil rights group Liberty, she was handed a peerage and role in the shadow cabinet in 2016, coincidentally after penning a report clearing Jeremy Corbyn’s party of anti-semitism. Has said: “My understanding is you are a member of the EU or you are not, but countries that are not members of the EU then negotiate the nature of their relationship with the EU — and we want a close relationship with the EU and ideally one where you keep your tariff-free access to that single market.” The daughter of Bengali immigrants once called “an anarchist in a barrister’s wig” by late lads’ mag Loaded, Chakrabarti made her name as a liberal in the noughties but is now fully on board with Team Corbyn, who see her as a loyal media performer.
Richard Madeley
Who? Television presenter, journalist and novelist
Where is he on Brexit? Voted to Remain, but has said that claims suggesting Britain is “inward-looking” are “b******s”
Enjoying his moment in the sun after winning plaudits by terminating an interview with waffling defence secretary Gavin Williamson, Madeley has an ambivalent attitude towards Brexit. Has said: “I don’t think the arguments were ever laid out clearly enough for any of us to understand. But, having said that, when I went to bed about 4.30am the morning after the referendum and it was obvious that Leave was going to win, I wasn’t sorry, because actually I think Britain would have been fine either way round.” An unapologetic real-life Alan Partridge, Madeley has been mocked for his Ali G impersonation, headbutted a child on live TV and been dry-humped by Shakin’ Stevens. Has Damian Hinds ever been dry-humped by Shakin’ Stevens? Almost certainly not.
Alison Phillips
Who? Editor of the Daily Mirror
Where is she on Brexit? Anti. Has described voting for Brexit as “like the worst hangover you have ever had”
Editor of the Labour-supporting tabloid – back in the leadership’s favour after calling for Corbyn to resign in 2016 and later recanting – Phillips also writes a weekly column. Has attacked Theresa May for “those dreadful leopardskin shoes, the leather trousers, the Billy Connolly cast-off suit” saying she is “like a man in a novelty tie – someone clinging to the belief that a wacky item of clothing can hide a total absence of personality”. Used her column this week to call for rail renationalisation, writing: “For rich Tory MPs from leafy constituencies have worked themselves into a fury about planes flying from Heathrow, but not given a fig about trains trundling through Huddersfield.” Formerly editor of short-lived newspaper The New Day.
Richard Reed
Who? Businessman and co-founder of Innocent Drinks
Where is he on Brexit? Fervent Remainer. Member of pro-single market group Open Britain who has said “the politicians on the leave side were deliberately selling false promises”
Entrepreneur Reed’s language is rather stronger than that on the side of Innocent’s bottles, which give advice on riding dinosaurs, boast the ingredients do not include airplanes and trumpets and provide the number to the Innocent office’s “banana phone”. Said last month that he was “sick of C-league politicians stitching up deals behind closed doors to save face, when the consequences will have an impact on everyone”. Has pursued a lengthy and entertaining feud with Wetherspoon boss, Brexiteer and scruffbag Tim Martin, who he has accused of selling Britain’s economy out for ‘cheap chardonnay’ (in return Martin called Reed “idle” and urged him to “get a job”). Sold Innocent to Coca-Cola in 2013, so unlikely to be in the Job Centre queue any time soon.
Question Time is on BBC One at 10.45pm tonight (11.15pm in Northern Ireland).