URN

This week the panel will be covering:

War Memorial Incident and Alcohol

A student faces jail for urinating on a war memorial, after getting so drunk he claimed to have no recollection of the evening. The student was on a night out organised by Carnage UK. Although students are perhaps known for their antics, have things gone too far with alcohol?

Conservatives and the EU

Now that the Lisbon Treaty is an inevitability, the Conservatives no longer have the option of the long-promised referendum. What options do they have, and how damaging has this been (and will be) for the Tories?

Protest at the Trent Building

On Wednesday students in Nottingham protested at the arrival of the Israeli ambassador to the UK. The ambassador gave a talk on "Historical Context, Regional Perspectives, and Israel's Search for Peace", whilst students objected to university affiliations to the Israeli government. Are the protests justified, and can they be effective?

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

On Wednesday the panel will be covering:

Karadzic

The trial of Roman Karadzic for war crimes has finally begun. He is accused of, amongst other offences, the Srebrenica genocide which resulted in the death of 8000 Bosnians. He has refused to enter a plea and has boycotted the trial, claiming there is a conspiracy against him. He has also repeatedly attempted to delay the trial. Can his protests significantly disrupt the trial? If so, would the integrity and reliability of the ICTY be compromised?

Drugs

Professor David Nutt was sacked this week for arguing that the government had taken the wrong decision by reclassifying cannabis as a class B drug. He has previously claimed that taking ecstasy is no more dangerous than riding a horse. Should he have been sacked, and is the government's approach to illegal drugs the right one?

MPs' Relatives

As part of the effort to "clean up" politics, proposals have been made to prevent MPs from employing their relatives. This has inevitably been opposed by many MPs, including the Commons Leader Harriet Harman. Should MPs be prevented from employing relatives, and is this a matter of public interest?

Let us know what you think in the comments

This week the panel covered:

The Economy

Contradicting all predictions, the UK's economy is still not recovering. Why is this, and what does it mean for graduate job prospects?

Lockerbie

The police have reopened investigations into the Lockerbie bombing to try and locate those who worked with Abdelbaset Al Megrahi. Is this necessary, and does it justify Al Megrahi's release?

Famine in East Africa

Ethiopia has asked for international aid to help it through the current famine. Has the media covered this sufficiently, and why has there been a reduction in international aid?

Today the panel will be covering:

Freedom of Speech

The Guardian was prevented from publishing details of a question to be asked in Parliament, causing outrage amongst the blogs and resulting in several websites reporting the question themselves. Meanwhile, Dutch MP Geert Wilders, having previously been banned from entering the UK, had the ban overturned and visited London. Is freedom of speech threatened by our institutions and courts, and how far can freedom of speech be taken?

Mail Strikes

Union workers have voted to commence nation-wide strike action over pay, conditions and postal reforms. Royal Mail plans to hire 30,000 temporary staff to cope with problems caused by the strike - a move criticised by the union. Are the strikes justifiable or likely to be effective? What can be done to save Royal Mail?

Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Plant

A demonstration at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station against the use of coal-fired stations ended on Sunday. The protestors intended to temporarily halt production at the facility, but despite failing to do so claimed victory in illustrating that "coal has no future". Can the demonstrations be justified, and are they necessary?

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments

On Wednesday the panel will be covering:

Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty is highly likely to be ratified by the Member States of the EU, despite the protests of the Conservative Party. Is there any room for manoeuvre for the Tories, and should a referendum be held?

U.S. Healthcare Reform

President Barack Obama has had considerable problems trying to push through a healthcare reform bill in America. Most Republicans appear to prefer the current system of insurance and accuse Obama of socialism. Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan has also waded into the debate, urging America not to copy the NHS, which he calls a "60 year mistake" he "wouldn't wish on anyone". Are Republican concerns valid? Should Obama's plan go ahead, and should our own system undergo substantial reform?

Prime Minister's Health

Andrew Marr recently asked Gordon Brown about his health and whether or not health concerns might affect his ability to lead the country, following rumours circulating around Westminster. Despite protests that the Prime Minister's health was a purely private matter, Downing Street have now released a statement detailing two tears in his retina. Should Gordon Brown's health be a matter of public speculation and concern?

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments