THOUSANDS of people from across the UK tuned into Winchester this evening in the quest for answers on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions.

The political discussion show, chaired by Chris Mason, was broadcast from Christ Church on Christchurch Road.

The panel was secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Robert Jenrick, the SNP's culture spokesman at Westminster John Nicolson, broadcaster and GB News presenter Alastair Stewart, who lives in Bramdean, near Alresford, and the shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry.

The panel was nearly united on whether health secretary Matt Hancock should resign after The Sun published a story showing him kissing an aide Gina Coladangelo, in clear breach of social distancing rules that he had been advocating every day for months.

Mr Stewart, Mr Nicholson and Ms Thornberry called for him to go, citing the hypocrisy of urging people to socially distance while being pictured in intimacy with another person.

Mr Stewart said that 30 per cent of people had still not been vaccinated and there were people and broadcasters arguing against it when the campaign was still active to persuade people to be jabbed. "We have got a wrong 'un at the heart of that campaign!" he said.

Mr Jenrick said: "Matt has apologised. He has made a mistake and regrets his actions, an apology the PM has accepted and considers the matter closed. We are still in a pandemic. There's a task to be done."

The audience asked questions on the how to help first-time buyers, the launch of GB News and Labour's decline into the inner cities.

On how to help the young get on the property ladder Mr Jenrick said the revamped planning system would see more houses built , to end the problem which has seen the average property price rise from £84,000 in 1995 to £400,000 today, 13 times the average wage.

Mr Stewart and Mr Nicholson locked horns over the launch of the new GB News station on which Mr Stewart is appearing. Mr Nicholson branded it "Brexit telly ....filled with cranks".

It was unclear why the show was coming from Winchester again in little over a year when a previous edition was held at Winchester University in February 2020 with a panel of John Denham, Lord Deben, Olivia Utley and Owen Jones.