SCOTLAND in 2008 is a vibrant and changing place. There are huge constitutional, political, social, economic and environmental issues up for discussion.
Today, The Scotsman cements its position at the heart of debate by announcing a series of events across Scotland to examine the big topics on a public stage.
The ScotsmanDebates – which build on the successful Scotland 300 series
ahead of the election last year – will cover a huge range of subjects – from politics, the environment and economic development to the future of our islands, defence, arts and the media.
Scottish politics is more intriguing than it has been for a generation, with the whole independence debate fuelled by those three little words uttered by Wendy Alexander last Sunday: "Bring It On." The ramifications of her comments will continue to be felt in both Holyrood and Westminster for some time as they opened up massive questions about Scotland's constitutional and political future.
The unfolding referendum story will play a big part in our first debate, which asks: "One year on from the SNP's historic election victory, is Scotland any nearer to independence?" The George Square Lecture Theatre at the University of Edinburgh will host the event, with deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon leading for the government. Labour's No 2 Cathy Jamieson will give her view on whether Wendy's words have damaged the party, while leading historian Professor Tom Devine will put current events in perspective. The panel will be completed by Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen, Independent MSP Margo Macdonald and Patrick Harvie, one of the two Green MSPs who potentially have a key role to play in the parliament.
The week after the opening debate, the focus moves to the North-east for a discussion on the relationship between the environment and economic development in Scotland. Donald Trump's plans for a huge golf complex in Aberdeenshire polarised opinion and raised fundamental questions about whether rural Scotland is open for business – or if our pristine environment is our one truly priceless commodity. Martin Ford, the councillor who originally rejected the Trump plan with a casting vote, will be on the panel, along with the CBI, RSPB and an academic expert.
We have spread the debates around Scotland and on 24 June we head to Benbecula to debate whether our islands have a viable economic future. As young people are central to this discussion, we are hosting it in a school – Sgoil Lionacleit – and a senior pupil will be on the panel. The Scotsman columnist, author and writer Lesley Riddoch, who has a huge interest in Scotland's islands, will chair the event in feisty fashion.
Joyce McMillan, another respected columnist for The Scotsman, will take the chair for the arts debate in August at the height of the Festival season. The focus will then shift to military matters in Helensburgh, home to the Faslane naval base, where the future of the military will come under discussion. This is followed by a debate on wind power, to be held in Jedburgh to reflect the disproportionate amount of wind turbines currently situated in the Scottish Borders. Are we making the most of wind energy – or is Scotland falling behind?
The seventh debate, at The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, will ask what media Scotland wants in the 21st century. An eighth debate, Progress beyond Politics, will be chaired by a director of economic and social research consultancy Blake Stevenson, which supports The ScotsmanDebates – to identify and understand movements in social change.
More details of venues and panellists will follow in the paper in the coming weeks – but if you want tickets for an early debate, apply soon.
Mike Gilson, the editor of The Scotsman, said: "This exciting series of debates reinforces The Scotsman's position as a paper which really cares about discussing the big issues. We want to give all sides a fair say – including members of the communities affected by changes highlighted in the debates. We hope the interest shown in our Scotland 300 debates last year will be repeated and that the people of Scotland turn out in force and make their voices heard.">turn out in force and make their voices heard."
To reserve tickets for a debate (maximum two per person) e-mail scotsmandebates@scotsman.com - please state in the header which debate you wish to attend. Alternatively, write to David Lee, ScotsmanDebates, The Scotsman, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS.