Readers of the T&A have a unique opportunity afforded to them in the run up to next Thursday’s local elections.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is coming to Bradford for a pre-election event. And he is asking our readers to join him at a Town Hall-style meeting where he will take questions from them.

After a tumultuous year as the second-in-command of the Coalition Government, there is no doubt that Mr Clegg can expect quite a grilling.

With issues like cuts to services affecting many in our district, there will be no shortage of willing interrogators. Other contentious areas likely to raise their head include tuition fees, health service reforms and public service pensions.

But Bradford is considered an important barometer by the Lib Dems in the local elections, and the Deputy Prime Minister obviously feels it is vital for him to be seen to be engaging with voters. And whatever your views on the direction the Coalition Government has taken, one of Mr Clegg’s undoubted strengths is his ability to relate to people in public debates.

With both the local election poll and the referendum on the Alternative Vote, this week is set to be the first significant public verdict on the Coalition while at the same time highlighting the differences within it. Whichever way the AV vote goes, it will be damaging for one of the partners.

Mr Clegg’s Lib Dems desperately want to see a vote for change, while their Conservative colleagues are strongly campaigning for the status quo.

Coupled with what could be a strong protest vote, it will be interesting to see how the Coalition holds up to these stresses. All of which adds even more reasons as to why the opportunity to question Nick Clegg which is available next week to our readers should be grabbed at.