Fresh from covering the political and military situation in Iraq for Channel 4's Dispatches series, leading author and journalist Peter Oborne is attending the Festival of Politics today to give his views on one of the most controversial and internationally contested conflicts of recent times. 

His session starts at 1pm in Holyrood's Debating Chamber.

Today's festival will also explore the global financial situation and ask whether the UK is facing a credit crunch or a global depression. Scottish economics journalist Peter Jones and chief executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland, Susan Rice, will be joined by presenter of BBC's Dragons Den programme and former BBC economics editor Evan Davis, to discuss how and why the global economy has changed so much in recent months.

Also featuring in today's line-up, a panel of political and cultural leaders, artists and policy makers from across Europe will discuss issues ranging from the role of artists in exploring identity to whether national and international arts policies are keeping up with political change.

Saturday’s highlights include the Youth Politics Festival, which offers people aged 16 to 25 to air their views on a range of topics from human rights, climate change and poverty. Later in the day, political comedian Mark Thomas will discuss issues important to him and reveal how he uses comedy and other non-conventional tools to make serious points.

Sessions will be held throughout the day. Events in the Main Chamber will be webcast live at www.holyrood.tv.

A full programme can be obtained at www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk.

 

 

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