Holly Lynch: Get some straight answers on the EU debate

Last Saturday I was in Halifax town centre talking to people about why I think Britain should remain in the EU. Many people told me that they're desperate to see some facts on the reality of our EU membership; that they want to cut through the claims and counter-claims they see in the papers and on TV and get some straight answers.

This week is your chance to do just that. Alongside Reverend Hilary Barber of Halifax Minster I have helped organise an event where two of the biggest voices in the EU referendum debate will be coming to Halifax. I hope you’ll be able to join us at the Minster from 6.30-8pm this Thursday where we’ll be debating the question: do we leave or remain in the European Union?

For the remain side Chris Bryant will be making the case to stay in the EU. He’s the Shadow Speaker of the House of Commons, a former priest and a hugely entertaining speaker. For the leave side we have Alex Story, head of business relations at Leave.EU and a former Olympic rower.

The popular Minster debates give the audience the chance to directly question the speakers on both sides and this should be a lively and informing debate.

5pm on Wednesday 8 June is the final deadline for registering to vote for the referendum. A surprisingly large number of people are still not on the electoral register and we know that nationally 1.5 million people have been taken off the register since the Government introduced Individual Electoral Registration in 2014.

If you voted in the council elections last month you should be registered but if you’re not certain then it is worth confirming your status either online or by calling the council’s electoral services. Two thirds of polling stations turned away voters in 2015 who thought that they were on the electoral register, but were not.

No matter which way you intend to vote, this is your chance to play your part in the biggest vote the country has faced in a generation; make sure you have your say.

To register to vote or to check you are on the register visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or call Calderdale Electoral Services on 01422 288013