KEIGHLEY organisations are being urged to stage debates in the run-up to the General Election.

The plea has been issued by John Grogan, who will contest the Keighley seat for Labour in the May 7 poll.

He said so far two debates had been provisionally arranged, by Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary and Community Action on April 17 and Ilkley Churches Together five days later.

“There is nothing like old-fashioned debates to stimulate interest in an election and we should not just leave it to the planned national TV events,” said Mr Grogan.