Retrospective account of the debate held on 2 October 2025. The article is filed under its archive date.
On 2 October 2025, I joined Adnan Hussain MP and Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council and a fellow county councillor, for a public debate at Preston Quaker Meeting House on St George’s Road.
Organised by the Light Foundation and hosted by Shaykh Adam Kelwick, the evening asked: Is hostile politics endangering refugees?
I was standing in for Lancashire County Council’s deputy leader, Simon Evans. The panel brought together Reform UK, Labour and an independent MP to discuss political language and its effects on refugees and asylum seekers.
Questions from the public
The discussion covered a wide range of questions about immigration, asylum and political language. Members of the public had the opportunity to question panellists from different political backgrounds and hear their responses directly.
Blog Preston covered the event in a report published on 6 October. The Light Foundation’s account records a full house and questions from the audience.
Photos from the evening
Photographs from the Light Foundation press release for the Preston debate. Select a photo to view it larger.
More from the series
Explore the other Light Foundation debates in Burnley with Adnan Hussain and Gordon Birtwistle and Blackburn with Adnan Hussain and Elaine Whittingham.