The reliable Central London Debating Society has announced an excellent, twisted, mayoral election debate:

We want to take the personality cults out of this contest and get to the big ideas at the heart of it, so we’ve decided to return to our famous balloon debate format – but with a twist – for this event. […]

We are looking for five volunteers to speak in defence of the policy they would most like to see enacted by the next Mayor and Assembly, whoever wins. You will not be asked to represent a candidate or a party. You will be asked to either pick one of their core policies or make up your own and tell the rest of us why it is the first and most important thing the winners of next week’s elections should do.

The format looks interesting and the schedule, the day before polling, is well-chosen. It takes place upstairs at The Old Cock Tavern and 7:30m

The Old Cock is on Fleet Street, EC4Y 1AA.