SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
FESTIVAL OF POLITICS CONCLUDES 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, 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, in the last session of the first day of the Festival of
Politics, 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 in life, 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.
Former BBC Economics Editor and Dragon's Den programme presenter 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 was delivered in formal partnership
with:
Carnegie UK Trust and the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust
The Law Society of Scotland
The Scotsman
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
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