FORMER transport minister and London mayoral candidate Glenda Jackson MP and shadow secretary of state for the environment, transport and the regions John Redwood MP are set to engage in a war of words at this year's London Motor Show - and in cyberspace. For the first time in its 176-year history the Oxford Union will stage a debate outside Oxford on the motion 'This house would force motorists to use their cars less'.

The debate will take place on Wednesday, October 20, in the Earl's Court Conference Centre before an invited audience of 400 Oxford University students. For everyone else the verbal sparring can be tracked live via the internet. Alongside Jackson speaking for the motion will be Charles Secrett, director of Friends of the Earth and Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor.

Speakers against the motion are Redwood, Walter Hayes CBE, life president of Aston Martin Lagonda and journalist, writer and television personality Jonathan Meades. Each will be able to speak for around eight minutes and then answer questions from the house. The debate is expected to last around 90 minutes and will be concluded by a vote.

The debate starts at 2.30pm on http://www.londonmotorshow.co.uk/News/Show