The format chosen for the 2020 Labour Leadership hustings disallows opening pitches, allows candidates only 40 seconds each to answer questions, and then 2 minutes each for a closing statement at the end of the session.

This extremely shortform questioning format does not allow nearly enough time for lesser known candidates to fully lay out their platform and properly differentiate themselves from the front-runners, and doesn't give the candidates a chance to debate among themselves.

This format directly disadvantages lesser known candidates like Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, and Emily Thornberry, while offering an unwarranted boost to the campaigns of candidates with better name recognition.

We call upon Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby to change the debate format in order to: