West Midlands Mayor: YOUR chance to grill candidates at Express & Star debate

The five candidates bidding to be the region's mayor have agreed to be quizzed by Express & Star readers – and we want YOU to be a part of it.

Labour's Siôn Simon, Conservative Andy Street, UKIP's Pete Durnell, Lib Dem Beverley Nielsen, and the Green Party's James Burn will face each other in a public debate at the Black Country Living Museum on March 7.

• Click here to submit your question for the candidates

Now it's your chance to be part of the Question Time-style event, chaired by Express & Star editor Keith Harrison.

We are issuing a number of free tickets for the early evening event, which will be held at the venue's Workers' Institute.

The debate will be the first of its kind and broadcast live online.

On May 4 the region will vote for a Metro Mayor for the first time.

The new position will control a budget of £36m a year and have responsibility for housing, transport, economic development, skills, mental health provision and business growth.

The Mayor will head the West Midlands Combined Authority, which was formed last year and consists of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull.

It was established in the wake of a wave of devolution deals which will see the Government handing more power to the regions.

Our event offers candidates the chance to put forward their views on the future of the region under devolution, while audience members will get the chance to put them under the spotlight.

Today the Express & Star opens applications for tickets which can be requested below or via postal applications.

All you need to do is fill in the form below or send your name, what part of the Black Country you're from, what question you would like to ask the candidates, as well as a contact telephone number and email address to the address given in the panel on this page.

We are also asking potential audience members to disclose if they are a member or supporter of a particular political party.

Successful applicants will be contacted before the debate. The editor will make the final decision on who to invite, based on the strength of the questions submitted.

"The West Midlands Mayor will wield great influence over the next few years and it's important that people get the chance to have their say on the key issues in the Black Country and beyond," said Mr Harrison.

"It will be a great opportunity for ordinary people to question the candidates about their policies and I'm looking forward to some lively debates."

Business leaders and politicians are set to attend the event, which will be the first of four major hustings taking place across the West Midlands organised by the region's newspapers and Urban Communications.

Coventry Cathedral will host the second debate on March 22, with the final two taking place at Birmingham Hippodrome on April 4, and Resorts World Birmingham at the NEC complex on April 23.

A new website www.westmidselects.org.uk has also been launched to help voters find out more about the role of the Mayor, the candidates and details of how to cast their vote on May 4.

To stay posted with the latest mayoral campaign news, as well as exclusive candidate interviews and videos, keep coming back to expressandstar.com/mayor