Broadcaster condemns Fringe cancellation as events with Humza Yousaf, Alex Salmond and Kate Forbes are confirmed

Iain Dale warns of ‘dangerous road’ for venues who pull the plug on elected politicians

A leading broadcaster has hit out at cancel culture at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as he confirmed talks with leading figures from Scottish and UK politics.

Iain Dale, who will quiz First Minister Humza Yousaf, Alex Salmond, Ian Blackford and Kate Forbes in August, suggested The Stand Comedy Club had gone down a “very dangerous road” by pulling the plug on SNP MP Joanna Cherry's appearances after some of its staff protested over the booking.

The LBC presenter's shows will also feature Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and MPs Penny Mordaunt, Harriet Harman, Wes Streeting and David Davis, author Peter Hitchens and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Nicola Sturgeon was interviewed by broadcaster Iain Dale at last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The line-up of Fringe talks, all due to take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, has been unveiled days after controversy flared over the Stand Comedy Club’s cancellation of an appearance by Ms Cherry.

The Stand said a number of “key operational staff” were “unwilling” to work at her event and that it had to ensure their views were respected. The venue been selling tickets and promoting the MPs appearance since February.

Events going ahead as part of The Stand’s “in conversation” strand at the New Town Theatre include Mr Corbyn, the SNP MPs Mhairi Black and John Nicolson, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, author Andrew O’Hagan, filmmaker Ken Loach, broadcaster Lesley Riddoch and radio presenter Tam Cowan.

Ms Cherry, a critic of the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill, says she has been the victim of "unlawful discrimination" and has suggested she may launch a legal action against the venue, which fellow SNP MP Tommy Sheppard is a director of.

Broadcaster Iain Dale will be hosting 'in conversation' events with some of the biggest names in British politics at the Fringe.

Mr Yousaf has said he hopes a solution can be found that will allow Ms Cherry's Fringe event to go ahead.

Mr Dale, who interviewed Nicola Sturgeon at last year’s Fringe, said he had approached both Mr Yousaf and Ms Forbes about the possibility of doing Fringe events when he hosted one of the SNP leadership debates.

Mr Dale said: "I believe that if you are an elected politician and you accept an invitation, then you have a right to a platform.

"Venues that seek to de-platform elected politicians of any colour or whatever their views are going down a very dangerous road. It is quite clear to me that people want to hear from politicians at the Fringe. That's why the overwhelming majority of my guests are politicians.

First Minister Humza Yousaf. Picture: Fraser Bremner - Pool/Getty Images

“The Edinburgh Festival was created to bring people together. If you look at Edinburgh, with the Enlightenment and the political history that it is steeped in, it is the home of free speech.

“I’ve been reading about Edinburgh University cancelling events that you would hope would be the kind of event any university should be hosting.

“It’s certainly not unique to the Fringe that one or two issues have arisen, but you would hope, if I can put it this way, that some people might take a stand.”

A spokeswoman for the Fringe Society said: “The society isn't involved in selecting any show or running any venue. The joy of the Fringe is that it's an open access festival – any artist can be part of the festival if they can find a venue to host them.”