Who is on Question Time tonight? John Swinney, Christine Jardine and Richard Leonard join the panel

Host of Question Time Fiona Bruce
Getty Images
Tom Herbert16 May 2019

The BBC's flagship political debate programme Question Time returns to TV screens tonight.

Host Fiona Bruce will present Thursday's show from Elgin, Scotland.

The line-up promises another heated show with Tory MP Bim Afolami set to go head-to-head with Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and Scottish deputy first minister John Swinney.

Scottish Lib Dem Christine Jardine will also appear along with vice-chair of Amnesty UK Eilidh Douglas.

Here is everything you need to know about tonight's Question Time panel.

Bim Afolami​

Bim Afolami is Tory MP for Hitchin and Harpenden

The Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden is an ex-corporate layer for city firms and later worked for HSBC.

Dubbed a "rising Tory star" by the Standard four years ago, Mr Afolami was just last year named as one of London's most influential people in the Progress 1000 list.

Voted Remain in 2016, but says he is "fully committed to delivering the result of the EU referendum". Consistently voted for Theresa May's deal, but against the prospect of a no-deal.

Richard Leonard

Mr Leonard is a pro-Corbyn MSP
PA

The MSP for central Scotland has been leader of the Scottish Labour Party since defeating Kesia Dugdale in 2017.

Elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016, Mr Leonard is pro-Corbyn and was popular among the party’s left-wing despite being a relative newbie, but has recently come under criticism over his perceived lack of leadership.

A Remainer who is against a second referendum, Mr Leonard is also against the idea of another Scottish independence referendum.

John Swinney

John Swinney joined the SNP 40 years ago
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An MSP for Perthshire North, John Swinney has been a long-running member of the SNP, a party which he joined 40 years ago as a 15-year-old.

Deputy First Minister of Scotland since 2014, Mr Swinney also holds the post of Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.

The 55-year-old is both against leaving the EU and against a no deal and has previously been critical of Westminster's approach to Brexit, especially in Scotland. Has called for an independent Scotland to join the EU.

Christine Jardine

Ms Jardine has been MP for Edinburgh West since 2017
PA

The Scottish Liberal Democrat politician has been MP for Edinburgh West since 2017 and has consistently voted with her party.

Against Mr's May's Brexit deal and against Brexit, she has called for a People's Vote to break the Brexit deadlock currently paralysing parliament.

An ex-journalist, Ms Jardine is also her party's spokesperson on work and pensions, and sits on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster.

Eilidh Douglas

Ms Douglas is a passionate Brexiteer

A vice-chair of Amnesty UK, the Tory Eilidh Douglas is a staunch Brexiteer in favour of a no deal along with Scottish independence.

She combines her role at Amnesty with that of being a solicitor at international law firm CMS, specialising in dispute resolution - so may be useful in tonight's programme.

Just a few days ago Ms Douglas said people needed to stop referring to Brexit as a "nasty, far right" project, saying it "allows the amplification of genuine, nasty, far-right views".

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