Everything you need to know about The Inverness Courier Leadership Debate

The Inverness Courier has secured a debate with the three candidates vying to become the next First Minister of Scotland on March 17.

Not all the SNP hustings have been public and were largely open only to members who will vote for the next party leader, but ours is different. Here's what you need to know.

Why are we doing this?

We believe that it is the fundamental democratic right of the people of the Highlands and Moray to hear directly from the next First Minister what they will do in office for the North of Scotland.

Though we understand that only SNP party members will be able to vote in the leadership election, the impact of that will rebound far beyond the membership to the whole country.

That is why we want to ask Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf what they will do as First Minister.

So is this only for SNP members?

Categorically: no. The SNP has already staged hustings for its members so The Inverness Courier debate is for the people of the Highlands and Moray and it is our aim to make this as widely accessible as possible for those wishing to view it.

That is why it shall be live streamed online without a paywall and other media outlets have also been invited to cover the debate.

How can I attend?

The event is open to Digital+ subscribers on a first come first serve basis and an email will be going out for those interested in applying for a ticket. If you are not a subscriber you can become one by clicking here

When we issue tickets for those who have applied we will be in touch with you with the details of how and when to get to the venue as well as other details like parking and travel.

Is it free?

Yes, totally. There is no charge for the ticket.

Can I get in without a ticket?

No. Unfortunately you can't because we have to limit the numbers of those attending only those with a ticket will be able to enter, however you can watch on our website via live stream.

What will happen on the night?

On the evening itself our moderator Nicky Marr will host the debate for around 90 minutes with no interlude.

The debate – what to expect

We aim to cover a number of topics throughout the evening with a specific focus on issues that affect the Highlands and Moray. National issues will also be addressed but again this will be from the perspective of the North of Scotland.

The first part will be based on our own questions balanced against what the candidates have already said elsewhere in the media, hustings and TV debates.

Can I ask a question?

Perhaps the most important part of the evening is when we come to the questions from the public. We are asking people to send their questions into us via this email address: debate@hnmedia.co.uk

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