BBC announces live Newsnight Labour Leadership debate

The BBC has announced it will broadcast a live televised hustings for the Labour leadership candidates on 17 June.

The Newsnight Labour Leadership Debate, presented by Laura Kuenssberg, will be broadcast live from Nuneaton in front of an audience at 7pm on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel.

Coverage and analysis will continue on the BBC News Channel from 8pm and Newsnight will air highlights and discussion at 10.30pm.

Newsnight Editor Ian Katz says: “Five years ago, Newsnight staged the first televised hustings in the race to succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader and we’re delighted to be giving viewers a ringside seat for the fascinating argument over the future of the party at this pivotal moment.”

Nuneaton has been selected as the venue for the debate because it is widely seen as an example of the kind of constituency which Labour needed to win to regain power, but failed to convince on 7 May.

The BBC will select the audience and determine the format of the debate.