Festival of Politics | Coming August 2010 |
Author and political heavyweights at third day of Festival
The economy and gender equality are among the topics being discussed today at the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics.
Two former Labour Party heavyweights, Clare Short and Dennis Canavan, will give individual talks about their colourful careers.
Now independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood, Clare Short will discuss the issues – both from home and abroad – which are important to her. These include the war in Iraq, international development and climate change. Deputy Presiding Officer Alasdair Morgan MSP will ask how she would make “politics fit for purpose”.
Later in the day, former Labour MP and Independent MSP Dennis Canavan will give an audience in the Debating Chamber an overview of his life in politics. The long-time supporter of devolution will talk to Deputy Presiding Officer Trish Godman MSP about why he championed the abolition of corporal punishment and why he believes sport is important to a nation.
Booker Prize-winning novelist James Kelman also appears at Holyrood to talk about how, if at all, devolution has reshaped Scotland. He will be joined by a number of experts from the world of the arts for the Devolution and the Arts: To be yersel’s – and to mak’ that worth bein’ event.
In Committee Room 1, there will be an hour-long session on how Scotland has pioneered research into diabetes. The session will also look back at how author HG Wells and Aberdeen-based Dr RD Lawrence, who set up the Diabetic Association, helped transform the lives of people with diabetes.
Other events include festival favourite Parliamentary Questions, when MSPs Michael McMahon, Shirley-Anne Sommerville, Derek Brownlee, Hugh O'Donnell and Patrick Harvie will take part in a lively debate chaired by The Scotsman's Peter MacMahon on a range of topics making the news.
The economic challenges facing Scotland will be discussed during Scotland’s Economy: Changing Needs or Needing Change? event. And another afternoon session, Climate for Change – From Economic Crash to Eco Recovery will look at whether the credit crunch could provide an opportunity to build a sustainable future.
Later, gender equality will be discussed at Has Devolution Delivered for Women? Participation, Representation and Power – which will question why 2007 saw the first drop in the number of female MSPs.
Programme availability and tickets
- Online from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
- By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 473 2000)
- By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE.
- In person: The Scottish Parliament or 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.
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
EAE Leaflet Marketing Specialists
The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City
The contact for members of the media is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
Isla Mair: 0131 348 6269
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: isla.mair@scottish.parliament.uk
For further Information on the Festival of Politics:
For further Information on World Press Photo:
For public information enquiries, contact:
Telephone: 0131 348 5000 / 0800 092 7500 (Public Enquiries) / 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)
Textphone users can contact us on 0800 092 7100. We also welcome calls using the RNID Typetalk service. Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
You can now get in touch with the Parliament by text message. Our interactive service enables you to get the name of your MSP by sending your postcode, lets you ask questions about the Parliament and its work, and enables you to request a selection of free leaflets. The number to take advantage of is 07786 209888. Texts are charged at standard network rates. More details can be found on our Text Service page.
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