Daily Record. Co.uk
5 July 2010
Chart-topping singer Annie Lennox and campaigning comedian Mark Thomas are to speak at this year’s Festival of Politics.
The former Eurythmics star will be making a return visit to the event – which is held annually at Holyrood – to talk about her SING Campaign, which uses music to educate people about the threat of HIV and Aids in South Africa.
She will also be joining comedian Mark Thomas, who has been nominated for a Perrier Award, and Martin Bell, the BBC journalist who became an independent MP, for a discussion session on how people who are not professional politicians can still exert influence.
Ms Lennox said she was “really looking forward to coming back to Edinburgh during the week of the Festival of Politics”.
And she said she would be taking part in “some very stimulating and interesting events”.
Another high-profile speaker at this year’s event will be former deputy prime minister John Prescott, with the Labour man discussing his life in politics.
Tory Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who has served as both defence secretary and foreign secretary, will lead a debate on the idea of a just war and peace and security in modern society.
Meanwhile Des Browne, who was defence secretary in the last Labour government, will join up with former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and David Coltart, Zimbabwe’s minister for education, sport arts and culture, to discuss the role Scotland could play in conflict mediation.
And with the sixth Festival of Politics taking place in a World Cup year, there will also be a debate on the future of Scottish football, which will be broadcast live on the Real Radio football phone in.
Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson said: “The dynamic nature of politics and the constantly developing relationship between politicians, political institutions and the public will lie at the heart of the 2010 Festival of Politics, under the over-arching theme of changing politics.”
He continued: “Over the last five years, the festival, together with the excellent World Press Photo exhibition, has welcomed more than 175,000 visitors to the Scottish Parliament.
“This proves that whilst politics may be changing, people remain keen to engage with it.
“The Parliament is looking forward to opening its doors once again and welcoming audiences to the 2010 Festival of Politics. We have another interesting, imaginative and thought-provoking programme which I hope the public will enjoy.”
The Festival of Politics is held from August 17 to 21.