20 August 2008

PARLIAMENT OPENS FESTIVAL OF POLITICS 2008

The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics opens today, playing host to a selection of inspiring presentations, speeches and debates from a cast of famous faces including political icons, peace campaigners and journalists.

Now in its fourth year, the four-day Festival of Politics has established itself as a firm favourite, attracting nearly 3,000 people to the Parliament each year.

The Festival offers a great number of events, broadening the opportunity to discover that politics is for everyone. There is something for all ages, with schools events through the week and youth events on Saturday.

For the first time, the Parliament is also working with the Carnegie Festival and hosting joint sessions, including the Youth Politics Festival where young people will have the chance to express their views on the most important global issues for youth in Scotland.

Today the Festival will open with a session called "Who Pays the Piper?" to discuss the funding of Scottish culture and creative industries and the decision-making mechanisms involved.

The Parliament will host also a session on human trafficking at 12.30pm in Committee Room 3. The Director of Amnesty International UK will outline new research highlighting the extent of people trafficking into Scotland.

Today's Festival will also hear discussions on the idea that pathways to peace can still be found in a world which seems to be dominated by conflict and violence. Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mahatma, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan-Maguire will lead this thought-provoking session and give an insight into world peace movements.

Later in the day, a debate will be held into what effect a new president might have on America and the rest of the world in the lead-up to a US election in November.

The Festival will also hear from actor Simon Callow on his personal experience of Britain's changing attitude to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. He will chat about his work with gay rights organisation Stonewall and discuss what he thinks still needs to be done to achieve full equality.

Sessions take place throughout the day and public and media are invited to attend in the Main Chamber and Committee Rooms. Events in the Main Chamber will be webcast live at www.holyrood.tv

A full programme can be obtained at www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk/programme or from the Parliament’s media relations office, contact details below.

On Thursday highlights include Denis Healey discussing the Labour Government and Lord Hurd talking about his role during the Thatcher-Major era.

Programme availability and tickets:

Copies of the programme and tickets are available:

Online from: www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk

By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 018001 0131 473 2000). Fax: 0131 473 2003.

By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE.

In person at the Scottish Parliament or at the Hub.

While most events are free, a small number of events will charge £6 (£3.50 concession) with those wishing to attend advised to book in advance.

Full details of the festival programme are available from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk

Festival Partners

This year's Festival of Politics is delivered in formal partnership with:

• Carnegie UK Trust and the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust
• The Law Society of Scotland
• The Scotsman

The parliament’s media contact is:

Sally Coyne tel: 0131 348 6265
RNID Type Talk calls welcome
Email: [email protected]

Isla Mair tel: 0131 348 6269
RNID Type Talk calls welcome
Email: [email protected]
For public information enquiries, contact 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
Email: [email protected]

Visit our website at www.scottish.parliament.uk