Host in limelight for TV election debate

By John Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Question

Ellwood: puts party leaders on the spot
Ellwood: puts party leaders on the spot
Helen Ellwood speaks of her "mesmerizing" experience on last night's live TV debate - and says her first-choice question was about supermarkets.

The licensee who quizzed party leaders on the expenses scandal on live TV last night actually wanted to ask how they'd tackle cheap supermarket alcohol sales.

Helen Ellwood of the freehold Poachers Inn at Bollington, Cheshire, has spoken to the Morning Advertiser​ about her "mesmerizing" experience of at the high-profile leaders' debate.

Initially, someone from the show entered her pub to ask if anyone had any questions they'd like to put to Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. "I was the only mug who said yes!" Ellwood said.

A letter arrived later asking the licensee to state her question in writing.

"I raised the question of supermarket pricing against the price we pay for beer. I asked why they wouldn't have a minimum price of alcohol," she said.

"I was asked if I wanted to ask it on the air and did I have any more questions. I put one through about immigration, one about the judicial system, and about the expenses scandal. Unfortunately they picked up on the expenses.

"When I got there last night they said mine was one of the questions that was short-listed, and I got taken away and miked up."

The licensee said she was "happy with the responses I got, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating".

"They said it shouldn't happen and it won't happen again. I want to see lip service turned into action."

Ellwood — who has been bombarded with media interested from national newspapers since the broadcast — described her experience as "mesmerizing".

"I was more impressed than I expected to be. It was very good to see them in the flesh."

She admits to being a "floating voter" but urged whoever gets into power to help pubs.

"Give us a tax break. Gives us rate rebates. National Insurance is through the roof. Minimum wage is ridiculous. The pub trade is dying on its feet and not helped by the bureaucrats in Westminster.

"There's just no insight [among MPs] into what it's like to run a pub. They seem to have a common sense gene removed when they become an MP."

Despite her disappointment about not being able to quiz the leaders on supermarkets, Ellwood hopes the question can be posed in follow-up TV debates before the election.

She added: "You can get 24 bottles of lager in supermarkets for less than a tenner. We can't charge anywhere near that price. It's such a ludicrous situation."

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