 The Festival of Politics provides a unique setting in the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber. One of the key figures speaking this year, Professor Michael Sandell, is a political philosopher who packs out halls, even stadia, with his thought-provoking dialogues. For one of the festival's partners, it's a major coup to have secured his involvement in this year's lineup. Michael Sandell, in my opinion, is one of the finest lecturers in the educational circuit and, I guess, beyond that, and his ability to engage his audience when he speaks, so that he is not talking at his audience, but he's actually bringing his audience into the whole conversation. How many think it might at least be worth a try? See if it would work. Raise your hand. Professor Sandell will be discussing public service and the future of democracy at the event on Saturday 15 August. Those who know him say the audience should expect to have their views challenged by the experience. The subject matter, I think, is important for everybody at the moment, because he's talking about the future of democracy. And, of course, we've, in our country here, had a bit of a revolution in people engaging in that debate about democracy, where democracy might go, and so that energy that exists, I think he will capture some of that and take us to perhaps a new place. Professor Michael Sandell will be delivering the lecture Public Service and the Future of Democracy on Saturday 15 August. Tickets can be obtained via the festival website.