Heavyweight clash to top festival bill
IT will be pistols at dawn as two strongminded journalists take to the stage for a special Barnaby Festival event.
Nick Robinson, from the BBC, and Guardian columnist Owen Jones will go head to head at an ‘in conversation’ event at St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield on Saturday, June 18.
Brought up in neighbouring boroughs but in opposing political traditions, they will take to the stage together for the first time in what promises to be a witty and insightful discussion about influences, impartiality and political life - followed by a question and answer session.
Macclesfield-born Robinson was political editor of both ITV and the BBC and is now a presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship news programme Today.
He was a founder member of Macclesfield Young Conservatives and went on to chair the national organisation before becoming a journalist.
And Owen, who grew up in Stockport, describes himself as a ‘fourth generation socialist’.
He is the author of Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class and appears regularly on BBC’s Newsnight and Question Time.
Karl Wallace, festival director, said: “This is not only a unique opportunity to hear perspectives on politics and journalism, but also to explore the differing influences on two local lads who went onto be national figures and are at the top of their game. We know there’s a real appetite in Macclesfield for political debate and we are hugely grateful to Nick and Owen for their support of the festival.
“It’s going to be one of the highlights of this year’s Barnaby”.
The theme for this year’s festival, set to take place from Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 26, is Space.
Nick Robinson will also be talking at King Edward Street Chapel on Friday 17 June in ‘Space for Debate’, addressing the current controversy around free speech. He argues that the concept of a ‘safe space’ - creating a protective cocoon to avoid causing offence - is itself a threat to open and intellectual debate.
Tickets for In Conversation: Nick Robinson and Owen Jones, are £12.50.
Tickets for all events are available at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk
See page 12 for Barnaby Bites