24 August 2008

FESTIVAL OF POLITICS CLOSES FOLLOWING SELL-OUT EVENTS

The Festival of Politics ended on Saturday, following a successful four days of debate, discussion and deliberation about the human impact of policy and how people can bring about change.

The Festival of Politics has established itself as a firm favourite, attracting nearly 3,000 people to the Parliament each year. Of the twenty-four events, eleven sold out, the largest number of sell-out events since the Festival started in 2005.

In the final session of this year's Festival, comedian Mark Thomas said: "Politics and comedy always go together. I found out about apartheid through a Dave Allen sketch! You can always change things. Admittedly, one joke is unlikely to do it but culture plays an enormous part in how we challenge the world. Can it change things? Yes."

Highlights included: On Wednesday, actor Simon Callow shared his personal experience of Britain's changing attitudes to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. Mr Callow said: "There has been an unprecedented change in people's attitudes. I have lived through post-war changes and the changes in the law have been miraculous. I am immensely hopeful that remaining prejudice will fade away. The more people get to know gay people, the less prejudice will survive."

On Thursday, former Chancellor of Exchequer Denis Healey discussed his political views and life in politics with the Parliament's Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP. Talking about lessons he had learnt, Mr Healey said: "When I was in the army I discovered two important lessons about life. The first was that we all depend on one another. The second, that planning is essential. Both these lessons proved fundamental and invaluable in my political career."

Talking about his life now, Mr Healey said: "I have led a very interesting political life and enjoyed it very much, but now my political interests are more limited. I am still interested in specific issues such as Iraq and the monetary system, but my main interests are in the arts, poetry, music and painting."

On Friday, the turmoil in the global economy and the pressures facing banks across the world were discussed at a debate at the Banking on Disaster session. Scotsman Business Editor Peter MacMahon was joined in the main chamber of the Parliament by former BBC Economics Editor Evan Davies, Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland Susan Rice and economics journalist Peter Jones to discuss how the UK economy can best weather the current political storm.

Evan Davies said: "Is this the first time the banks have gone too far? No. Is this the first time the banking system has failed? No. The question is why are we all so dumb that we keep letting it happen again and again."

Still showing at the Parliament until 30 August is the prestigious World Press Photo Exhibition that has attracted more than 18,700 visitors to Holyrood since it opened to the public two weeks ago. Local people and tourists have been enjoying the images taken by the world's top photojournalists, including through three Apple iMacs – providing touch-screen information on the winning photos, photographers and judging panel. The exhibition features 200 world-class images from leading photo-journalists, agencies, newspapers and magazines around the world.

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