Ask The Chancellors: Sky News To Host Q&A

Sky News and Facebook (NasdaqGS: FB - news) are to host an "Ask The Chancellors" event on Monday, 23 March, with key opinion formers quizzing George Osborne and Ed Balls in a TV showdown.

An audience of entrepreneurs, start-up companies and local businesses will ask tough questions of the Chancellor and shadow chancellor at an event in London hosted by Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam.

Mr Osborne and Mr Balls will each face 30 minutes of live questioning from the audience in separate sessions, followed by questions asked by Facebook users across the UK.

After the Q&A sessions there will be live analysis with expert guests, who will give their views on how the politicians have performed.

Ask The Chancellors will be broadcast live on Sky News and all its platforms as well as live streamed to millions on the Sky News Facebook page and YouTube channel .

All viewers will be able to get involved via the Stand Up Be Counted and Sky News Facebook pages using the hashtag #AskTheChancellors.

Jonathan Levy, head of newsgathering at Sky News, said: "This is a chance for business people to grill the Chancellor and shadow chancellor on their economic policies in the run-up to the General Election, as well as react to the content of Wednesday's Budget.

"I expect the live Q&As to be probing and impassioned, as the people whose lives and businesses are directly affected by the policies decided by Mr Osborne and proposed by Mr Balls ask the questions."

Mr Balls has been pressing for a TV clash with Mr Osborne since January, when he said he would be very happy to debate with George Osborne "any time, any place, anywhere".

Last weekend Mr Balls ambushed the Chancellor on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show by challenging him face to face and then shaking his hand.

Asked to agree to an encounter, Mr Osborne said: "Well, I'm happy to meet you in a debate."

Mr Balls replied: "We should shake on it and go for it."

Welcoming the announcement of the Sky News/Facebook clash, Mr Balls tweeted: "Looking forward to Sky Q&A - but disappointed George Osborne, like Cameron, running scared of head-to-head debate - despite our handshake!"