The John Smith Centre has announced Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP and Times columnist Fraser Nelson as speakers at its latest Surviving Politics event, taking place on Monday 2 February at the University of Glasgow.
The event comes as politics in 2026 continues to shift at pace, with global upheaval and domestic elections reshaping public debate and putting pressure on those operating at the centre of political life.
The evening will bring together two prominent figures from different political perspectives for a live discussion on where politics is heading, with audience participation encouraged throughout.
This marks the second instalment in the John Smith Centre’s Surviving Politics series, which aims to explore what it is really like to be present during pivotal political moments and to examine how decisions are shaped behind closed doors.
The series launched with a high profile encounter between Scotland’s former First Minister Humza Yousaf and politician and journalist Michael Gove, an event that drew a full house and strong reactions both inside and outside the venue.
That inaugural discussion tackled subjects including Brexit, independence, UK Scottish relations, and Gaza and Israel, with a level of candour that organisers say struck a chord with the audience.
Eddie Barnes, Director of the John Smith Centre, said:
“From revolution in the White House and war in Europe, to elections closer to home in Scotland, 2026 is certainly off to an eventful start.
“We can expect another year where emotions run higher than ever before, and many people clash over many issues, both on and offline.
“At the John Smith Centre, we strongly believe in providing a platform for free and civil debate that everyone should be given a platform for free debate, no matter how unpalatable difficult the topic.
“It’s by talking about our differences, and listening to others, that we can nurture a public square which encourages more people to join in and take part in our national life.”
Barnes said the format of the series is designed to place disagreement at its heart while maintaining a spirit of curiosity and good faith between speakers and audiences alike.
Reflecting on the previous event, he said:
“During our event with Michael Gove and Humza Yousaf, the lecture theatre was surrounded by protesters who had taken offence at Gove’s comments about Israel.
“The result was a combustible, uncomfortable, funny, bad tempered, exciting, moving, stressful, insightful, civil, and fun evening, and far from being appalled that we had gone ahead with the event despite the negativity surrounding Gove, students thanked us for holding a safe and civic space in which to debate politics.
“Our mission is to enable and inspire young people to get involved in politics and public life, and we hope that through our events, we are achieving this aim.
“We look forward to what we hope will be another interesting evening with Kate Forbes and Fraser Nelson.”
