The debating politicians problem
The schedule for Thursday's seven-way debate in the current UK general election campaign looks suspiciously like a solution grid for a certain type of logic puzzle. So, while I'm not willing to time-waste to the point of reverse-engineering the whole thing, here's a possible start:
1. The politician standing three places to the right of the politician who is first to make their opening statement answers the fourth question immediately before the politician who is the last to answer the second question.
2. The penultimate politician to make their closing statement stands immediately to the left of the politician who answers the second question immediately before the second politician to answer the third question.
3. The last politician to answer the third question stands three places to the right of the politician due to make their closing remarks immediately after the politician who stands immediately to the left of the politician whose opening statement is due two turns before that of the politician whose answer to the first question is immediately before that of the politician who stands immediately to the right of the last politician to make their opening statement.
4.... [Continue as seems appropriate]
1. The politician standing three places to the right of the politician who is first to make their opening statement answers the fourth question immediately before the politician who is the last to answer the second question.
2. The penultimate politician to make their closing statement stands immediately to the left of the politician who answers the second question immediately before the second politician to answer the third question.
3. The last politician to answer the third question stands three places to the right of the politician due to make their closing remarks immediately after the politician who stands immediately to the left of the politician whose opening statement is due two turns before that of the politician whose answer to the first question is immediately before that of the politician who stands immediately to the right of the last politician to make their opening statement.
4.... [Continue as seems appropriate]