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Festival of Politics 2009
The 2009 Festival of Politics will run from Tuesday 18 August until Saturday 22 August 2009. The full programme will be launched, and tickets will be available, for this year's Festival on Monday 6 July.
The Festival programme will be available in electronic form on this website, and in hard copy from the Scottish Parliament, Hub Tickets (the Edinburgh International Festival box office) and information outlets throughout Scotland.
Members of the media who wish to obtain information on the 2009 Festival should contact mediarelations@scottish.parliament.uk.
The Festival of Politics ended on Saturday, August 23 2008, 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.
Dragons' Den presenter 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.
More Festival news and information
Welcome to the Festival of Politics from the Presiding Officer
Watch the video archive or view World Press Photo images.
To receive further information on the Festival of Politics and similar events please register for updates.
See information on visiting the Scottish Parliament, including the Holyrood shop, and find out details of the Scottish Parliament's crèche.