THE POST has assembled a panel of experts from both the ‘in’ and ‘out’ campaigns to stage a special debate on the European Union referendum.

Two campaigners for each side of the hotly contested issue will form the panel for the special event organised by the Post Series in Petersfield.

Around 250 tickets are initially being made available for the Question Time-style evening, which will take place in St Peter’s Church in Petersfield town centre on Thursday, June 9, from 7.30pm.

The event is being chaired by Peter Henley – BBC South’s political editor – and he will be keeping order on the night, while also making sure both sides of the campaign get equal time to put their message across.

Those representing the ‘In’ side of the campaign will be East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds and William Vine, who is a member of the European Movement Hampshire group.

Those representing the ‘Out’ side of the campaign will be Peter Baillie – a member of the UK?Independence Party (UKIP), and Malcolm Bint, the East Hampshire group organiser for the Leave.EU campaign.

Post Series editor Graeme Moir said:?“The European Union (EU)?Referendum is going to be one of the most important political decisions this country’s voters will make in generations.

“In trying to both cover the debate and allow both sides of the campaign to set out their reasons for staying in or getting out of the EU, we are staging this event to allow the people of Petersfield and East Hampshire to listen directly to what both campaigns have to say and also to give some members of the audience the chance to put their questions to the panel.

“We hope this evening of debate will be an informative and intelligent meeting where both sides can make their case and the audience will go away afterwards better informed about the referendum and perhaps knowing which way they will vote on polling day if they haven’t made up their minds yet.”

Tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis and two tickets per application will be the allocation. To apply all you need to do is fill in the coupon in this week’s paper (May 18) and send it to: Referendum Debate Tickets, Post Series, 33 High Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3JR.

Or you can e-mail all of the details on the coupon below to: [email protected]

Please include a question you would like the panel to answer – your question may get chosen on the night and you will be given a chance to read it out at the debate.

We are also asking all ticket applicants to indicate which way they are thinking of voting on the coupon.