Scottish Parliament reacts to Sir Sean Connery cancelling his planned appearence

28-Jun-2006 • Actor News

The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer George Reid today defended the comments which led to screen legend Sir Sean Connery cancelling his appearance at the Festival of Politics.

Mr Reid had been due to interview the Edinburgh-born star on stage in the showpiece opening event of the festival in August - reports The Scotsman.

But the former 007 actor pulled out after Mr Reid said he would be asking tough questions, including Connery's view on violence against women.

Connery was quoted in a US magazine in 1993 as saying: "To slap a woman is not the cruellest thing you can do to her."

The parliament today published the programme for the festival - with Sir Sean's picture still on the front and the event still listed inside.

Speaking today about Sir Sean's decision to pull out, Mr Reid said: "It is a loss but he said he will continue his association with the parliament. He has moved on, and so do we."

Asked if he regretted the affair, Mr Reid said: "I think it's unfortunate, but it's always been a festival of politics, where attitudes and issues have to be explored.

"It's not a festival of theatre, it's not a festival of film, it's a festival in which you expect public attitudes and ideas to be explored."

A parliament spokeswoman said the cancellation had come too late to amend the printed programme, but she said up-to-date details were on the website. And she pointed to a paragraph in the programme which said: "Information is correct at time of going to press, but we reserve the right to change or cancel any event."

Veteran anti-home ruler Tam Dalyell, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and international television journalist George Alagiah are among the big names who will take part in this year's Festival of Politics.

The event, now in its second year, will also feature Rachel Elnaugh, star of BBC TV's Dragons' Den, political satirist and writer Armando Iannucci, and historian Dan Snow, star of BBC TV's Battlefield Britain.

Last year nearly 3000 people attended the first Festival of Politics, based at the Scottish Parliament. The festival, which has been extended from three to four days, will take place from August 23 to 26.

Mr Dalyell will talk about his life in politics and revisit the West Lothian Question, the issue he first raised some 30 years ago, but which is still a source of debate.

Sir Ming will talk informally about his life in politics, his vision for the party, for Scotland and beyond.

And George Alagiah will talk about his experiences reporting events from around the world.

Discussion topics at the festival include conflict in the Middle East, Culloden, Scottish identity and the health of political democracy and entrepreneurship.

Some of the parliament's senior politicians have agreed to field questions from the public during a special Question Time.