Business leaders from Ipswich and across Suffolk are to be offered the chance to challenge candidates from the major political parties ahead of the General Election.

Ipswich Central, Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and the Suffolk branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) are teaming up to host a Business Question Time event on Thursday, April 23, just two weeks before polling day.

The aim to to give businesses the oppportunity to put questions to candidates on key issues such as economic development, transport and infrastructure, business support and international trade.

Chairing this debate, to be held at University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich, will be former BBC and Sky News presenter Laurie Mayer.

Terry Baxter, chairman of Ipswich Centre, the company responsible for delivering the town centre Business Improvement District (BID) project, said: “We are looking forward to providing our members the opportunity to come face-to-face with the potential parliamentary candidates for Ipswich and to ask questions that really matter to them and their businesses.

“The event will provide a lively debate around the future of our town centre and how their policies will impact our county town”

Luke Morris, the IoD’s Suffolk chairman, said: “We’ve collaborated to pull together the premier pre-election business event for Ipswich. Ipswich, of course, is a town with a demographic closely matching the national average. But who would want to be a pollster this time around? The uncertainty and range of possible outcomes makes it more exciting than ever.

“What do our prospective representatives stand for on business? At a time where a Conservative prime minister is calling for the living wage, and the Labour leader, after a shaky week or two, is now working to charm business, it’s hugely important for our business community to scrutinize these candidates. How do they really view the key issues? What will they do for the town? I can’t wait!”

Dave Müller, chairman of Ipswich Chamber, added: “As a Chamber we greatly value the opportunity we have to regularly meet with our Parliamentary representatives and raise the issues that affect business every day in Ipswich and across Suffolk.

“As the General Election draws close, we need to ensure that business can directly question those seeking to represent them at Westminster, which is why this Question Time event is so important. We’d encourage any firm, big or small, to come along and take part and hear what the future decision makers of our town and county have to say.”

For further details and to book a place at the event, visit http://ipswichcentral.com/town-centre-forum/ .