This week's panel

Question Time, the BBC's premier political programme, was in Brighton on 29 September.

David Dimbleby was joined by Patricia Hewitt MP, Ken Clarke MP, Simon Hughes MP, Janet Street-Porter of the Independent on Sunday, and national director of Christian Voice Stephen Green.

PATRICIA HEWITT MP

Title: Secretary of State for Health

Career: Patricia Hewitt has said that the government will never abandon "the principle that health care has got to be available free at the point of need."

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She has acknowledged that Gordon Brown will succeed Tony Blair as leader of the Labour Party.

Previously trade and industry secretary and women's minister, Patricia Hewitt has also worked in the Treasury. She was press secretary to Neil Kinnock as leader of the opposition 1983-87.

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KEN CLARKE MP QC

Title: Conservative Leadership Contender

Career: Conservative leadership contender to succeed Michael Howard, Ken Clarke has already been defeated twice in the battle for the leadership crown, losing to William Hague in 1997 and again to Iain Duncan Smith in 2001.

Over the summer Mr Clarke claimed that the euro had been a "failure" and the EU constitution was "effectively dead".

Under previous Conservative administrations he has held the positions of chancellor of the exchequer, health secretary, education secretary and home secretary.

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SIMON HUGHES MP

Title: President, Liberal Democrats

Career: Simon Hughes was elected president of the Liberal Democrats last year after coming third in the London mayoral election.

Amid leadership speculation at the Liberal Democrat conference last week he sought to reassure Charles Kennedy that there was no threat from him.

Following Paddy Ashdown's resignation as leader in 1999, Simon Hughes stood in the Liberal Democrat leadership election and came second to Charles Kennedy.

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JANET STREET-PORTER

Title: Editor at Large, Independent on Sunday

Career: Janet studied architecture before entering Fleet Street by the age of 21.

Since then she has established herself as a journalist, TV producer and broadcaster. She was head of the BBC's youth and entertainment department and joined the Independent in 1999.

Last year Janet was a contestant on ITV's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. She is vice president of the Ramblers Association and in her spare time enjoys walking and modern art.

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STEPHEN GREEN

Title: National Director, Christian Voice

Career: Stephen Green heads the conservative evangelical Christian pressure group Christian Voice which believes in a return to traditional Christian values.

He led the campaign against the BBC showing Jerry Springer - The Opera, which featured God, Mary and Satan uttering strong language, and depicted a dream-state Jesus confessing he is "a bit gay". He succeeded in getting some theatres to drop the show by threatening to hold protests outside.

Stephen is married and has children. He launched Christian Voice in 1994.

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BBC One's Question Time is broadcast on Thursdays at 2235 BST.