Sturgeon fury as visa difficulties lead to book festival headache

NICOLA Sturgeon has said difficulties obtaining visas for overseas artists has “undermined” the prestigious Edinburgh International Book Festival, and said: “The UK Government needs to get it sorted.”

The Scottish First Minister – a keen reader who is also taking part in the literary event – hit out after book festival director Nick Barley said some of the writers had been “humiliated” by the measures they had to go through to get permission to enter the country.

He also warned that the UK’s reputation as a global ar ts venue could be seriously damaged if problems in obtaining visas worsen after Brexit.

Mr Barley said one author had had to supply his marriage certificate, his daughter’s bir th certificate and bank statements, before then being sent for biometric testing, in order to get his visa.

The festival director said the author concerned “was so humiliated by that” he initially decided he didn’t want to go through with coming over to take part in the event.