LEADING national and local politicians submitted themselves to a “Question Time” style grilling by Liverpool’s young professionals at FACT.

The panel consisted of Liverpool-born health secretary Andy Burnham for Labour, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling for the Conservatives, and Liverpool city council leader Warren Bradley for the Lib-Dems.

Each speaker was only allowed a minute to answer each question.

A large number of topics were raised by members of the 120-strong audience, from MPs’ expenses to the economic recession.

But the panel also touched on a variety of issues specific to Liverpool and the wider region.

On the fate of Merseyside’s burns units at Whiston and Alder Hey – which are under threat of relocation to a new “super-centre” outside the region – Mr Burnham stressed that no final decision had been made.

He said: “There’s a proposal to change the way the most specialised services are delivered, but it is only a proposal.

“This is a world-class city, and it needs the highest quality world-class services here.

“The burns units are a live issue. It is far from a final decision.”

Mr Grayling attacked the “culture of centralisation” in public services, while Cllr Bradley said he was confident the burns units would remain in the city.

Other subjects broached were whether Liverpool would benefit from having its own elected mayor.