21 August 2008

POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS PUT UNDER FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT

Denis Healey and Douglas Hurd, two heavyweights from different sides of the political spectrum, will headline today's Festival of Politics.

One time left-wing firebrand Denis Healey, who turns 91 this month, will talk about his four decades of political life. He will give his take on Labour's highs and lows - everything from the Winter of Discontent to the Blair revolution - during an hour-long discussion with Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP.

Deputy Presiding Officer Alasdair Morgan MSP will later host an interview with Douglas Hurd who will give an insight into his time as a cabinet minister during the Thatcher-Major years. Lord Hurd played key roles during periods of change in Northern Ireland and Europe. He will also analyse the UK's influence on the world stage during his session at 5pm in the Chamber.

At 12.30pm, Committee Room 1 will be the venue for a discussion on why more than 80 years after UK women were given the vote they are still under-represented in politics. The Women and the Vote event, held by the Parliament's cross-party group on Men's Violence Against Women and Children, will discuss what needs to be done to achieve gender equality.

The Festival will also hear from older carers who dedicated their lives to caring for children with learning disabilities born in the post-war period. The No Time to Retire event will hear from parents as they share their experiences of caring for these children in an era before formal support mechanisms were widely available.

Philanthropy will also be put under the spotlight at the New Politics of Giving session in association with the Carnegie Festival. Among those taking part are Diana Leat, a consultant at the Carnegie UK Trust, and philanthropist Sigrid Rausing, whose trust has given away over £60 million for work in the fields of human rights and social and environmental advocacy. One of Scotland's leading political commentators and former editor of The Scotsman newspaper, Magnus Linklater, will chair the event, which will focus on how philanthropists can shape politics nationally and internationally.

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 or from the Parliament's media relations office, contact details below.

Friday's highlights include columnist Peter Oborne talking about the Iraq conflict and the UK's top financial moguls looking into the causes of the current financial crisis.

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