Why book festivals and politicians both do and don't go together

It’s perhaps time for book festivals to consider whether it’s possible to have too many politicians

Amid noise of social media, book festivals have become havens for discussions about the human condition. Their popularity is such that politicians have taken to making regular appearances – and the more thoughtful political discussions the better, we say.

However, it’s just possible that we might perhaps be getting close to the point at which audiences start to grumble about this plethora of politicos.

Borders Book Festival, held in Melrose in June, will feature several interesting authors, including Michael Palin, Sally Magnusson, Andrew Marr, Tim Bouverie, Stacey Dooley and more. John Swinney and former Conservative Cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove will also be there.

John Swinney reads a book called 'How to Make a Story' during a visit to Edinburgh's Wardie Primary School (Picture: Jane Barlow) | PA

The First Minister has at least had a book written about him – “John Swinney: The Life and Amazing Journey of The First Minister of Scotland” – but as far as we know is not a published author himself.

READ MORE: Analysis: Are politicians' book festival appearances just a disguised party political broadcast?

There is a “A handbook of operative urological surgery” by a John Swinney, but we suspect this is someone else. Of course, politicians can attract useful publicity, but book festivals should take care, lest their audiences start to think they are taking the ‘urological mickey’.