The Changing Face Of British Politics And How It Shapes Our Lives

Is democracy in danger? And how do we make sense of our ever-changing political landscape? These are just a couple of the big questions explored by guest speakers at this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival (11-25 Oct).

British politics is undergoing one of its most dramatic periods of change in generations. Long-held voter loyalties are breaking down, support for the traditional parties is shifting, new political forces are gaining ground and the assumptions that have shaped elections for decades can no longer be taken for granted.

Few people understand these changes better than Sir John Curtice, Britain’s foremost political analyst and one of the country’s most trusted interpreters of elections, polling and public opinion.

Familiar to millions from his election-night analysis, Sir John has spent decades making sense of how Britain votes – and, crucially, why. Combining rigorous analysis with an extraordinary ability to cut through political noise, he has become an indispensable guide to the changing mood of the nation.

Drawing on the latest polling, electoral evidence and decades of experience studying British voters, Sir John will separate political reality from rhetoric and consider what today’s extraordinary volatility could mean for the next general election and the longer-term future of British politics.

Joining him at this year’s Festival is former Supreme Court Justice Lord Jonathan Sumption, one of Britain’s most distinguished legal minds and provocative public thinkers, who will explore the challenges facing democracy and the Rule of Law, and whether we have become too complacent about the freedoms we take for granted.

At a time of political upheaval, declining trust in institutions and growing challenges to democratic norms across the world, Lord Sumption will ask how free societies survive – and what happens when the balance between governments, courts and citizens begins to shift.

From freedom of speech and human rights to the power of the state, international law and the very foundations of democratic consent, he will address some of the defining issues of our age.

The distinguished journalist and author John Sergeant has enjoyed one of the most colourful and entertaining careers in British broadcasting, stretching from the corridors of Westminster to the dancefloor of Strictly Come Dancing.

Sergeant spent decades reporting from the heart of British politics, witnessing history unfold and interviewing many of the key figures who shaped it. Along the way, his warmth, wit and dry sense of humour made him one of the nation’s most recognisable broadcasters.

In a wide-ranging conversation at this year’s Festival, he will reflect on his remarkable life in journalism and television – from unforgettable encounters with political heavyweights and seismic moments in Westminster to the changing world of news, broadcasting and public life.

Since its inception in 2012, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival has championed political debate, platforming an array of big names including David Cameron, Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon, and tackled important issues that affect the lives of ordinary people.



Making Sense of British Politics with Sir John Curtice – The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, 22 October, 4.30pm. Tickets £20.

Is Democracy in Danger with Lord Jonathan Sumption – The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, 22 October, 8pm. Tickets £22.

Strictly Speaking with John Sergeant – The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, 23 October, 5pm. Tickets £20.

Tickets are available from the Harrogate International Festivals website harrogateinternationalfestivals.com or by calling the Box Office on 01423 562 303.