Media Release: Politics Explained series 2009 – Holyrood’s new political training programme headed up by former First Minister

IN the year that the Scottish Parliament celebrates its ten-year anniversary, so too does the award-winning Holyrood magazine.

Providing information and insight into the politics of Scotland since devolution was enacted who better to provide organisations and individuals with the tools to understand and engage with government, its work and competencies, resources and personalities? Politics Explained is that tool.

The Right Honourable Henry McLeish, former First Minister of Scotland is leading the 2009 programme and will chair the series.

Speaking about the programme, the former First Minister said:

“Politics Explained provides an in depth and comprehensive look at the institutions, processes, policies and players which make up our modern democratic system. Overall the aim is to make sense of this complex mosaic so that it can make a difference to the way the wider community of interests in Scotland interacts and operates in this new era of change.”

The launch of Politics Explained on Monday the 30th of March delved into the makeup and inner workings of the Scottish Parliament. With speakers including the former MP, MSP and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament the Right Honourable George Reid and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Murdo Fraser MSP the expertise and knowledge on hand was unrivalled and provided real insight into the workings of the Scottish Parliament and the Parliamentary system.

The Scottish Parliament Explained course is only one of the events in a series that will cover local and central government, the media, Westminster and the EU all viewed from a Scottish perspective and each with expert speakers with whom delegates can access directly. Future Speakers include former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the Right Honourable Charles Kennedy MP; former co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party Robin Harper MSP; author of ‘The Government of Scotland’ Professor Michael Keating and the award-winning editor of Holyrood Magazine, Mandy Rhodes.

With speakers like this participating, Politics Explained promises to provide information and insight in equal measure.

Course dates:

The Scottish Parliament Explained, Monday 7 September
The Scottish Government Explained, Monday 21 September
UK Media Explained, Friday 9 October
Scottish Local Government Explained, Friday 23 October
Westminster Explained, Monday 9 November
European Union Explained, Thursday 26 November

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Politics Explained courses run for a full day and will be running throughout 2009 taking place at the Holyrood MacDonald Hotel on Holyrood Road. For further information, speaker and agendas please visit www.scottishpolitics.co.uk

For further details please contact Scott Brodie (Tel: 0131 272 3107) or James Cowie (Tel: 0131 272 3100).

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Contact: Scott Brodie or James Cowie
Phone: 0131 272 3107 or 0131 272 3100