The Scotsman
THE EDINBURGH International Book Festival director has said there will be an “impartial” arena for political debate at the event – but no space for a “pugilistic boxing match”.
Nick Barley has insisted Charlotte Square Gardens will allow space for issues such as next month’s referendum, the conflict in Gaza and the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
Describing the festival as “a champion of freedom of speech”, Mr Barley said a major focus of this year’s event would involve “giving voice to writers from all over the world whose views need to be heard”.
Mr Barley – who is at the helm of his fifth event – said he was determined to create an atmosphere in which people would be “comfortable expressing their views and opinions without fear of getting shouted down”.
Much of the focus at the festival will be on the referendum, with both Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown late additions to the programme.
But Mr Barley said he had decided against having traditional debates at the festival, in the hope of having “a proper discussion rather than a pugilistic boxing match”.
The run-up to the book festival, which starts tomorrow, has also been marred by a row over the cultural boycott of government-funded Israeli performers, which has led to two productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe being scrapped amid criticism of the campaign from culture secretary Fiona Hyslop.
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