It might be a 'Bellwether' seat, but to avoid a noisy ding-dong, Punchline TV, sponsored by Business West, hosted a calm and reasoned debate between key contenders – the quest being to nail down what defines the main political offers that the key front runners are making for business, here in the urban heart of Gloucestershire.

Incumbent MP Richard Graham (Conservative), Liberal Democrat contender Rebecca Trimnell and Labour's Alex McIntyre took to the hot seats, while Punchline Editor Mark Owen, alongside Business West Gloucestershire director (and former Citizen Editor) Ian Mean posed the questions.

So make a cup of tea and pull up a chair for the first of four videos where Punchline takes you through the big and small issues that inform the huge decision that awaits us this Thursday.

First up in this miniseries of 15-minute debates, housing and inner city development was the focus, given that the subject dominates every aspect of any plan to move forward in Gloucester.

How would each candidate approach such burning issues as homelessness, the need for redevelopment in Gloucester's hearland and the blight of empty shops?

Once you have watched this introduction, you can access Part Two here.