photo opportunity 12:45pm, 1st floor conference suite, Tower Building, University of Dundee<
The popular New Scotland: New Politics lectures series starts again today at the University of Dundee as independent MSP Dennis Canavan offers his views on Scottish politics.
After being a Labour MP for 25 years, Dennis Canavan was excluded from Labour's list of candidates for the Scottish Parliament, despite having the support of over 95% of the members of Falkirk West Constituency Labour Party. At the first election to the Scottish Parliament he stood as a candidate without the support of any party and was elected with the biggest majority in Scotland.
Dennis Canavan was MP for West Stirlingshire (1974-1983) and Falkirk West (1983-2000). He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (1982-1997), a member of the International Development Select Committee (1997-1999) and convener of the All-Party Parliamentary Scottish Sports Group (1999).
Born in Cowdenbeath, Fife in 1942, Dennis Canavan was educated in Edinburgh University where he achieved BSc (Hons) and Dip. Ed. He was formerly Labour Group leader at Stirling District Council and Assistant Head of Holyrood High School, Edinburgh.
The series will continue on Friday 9 November with Annabell Goldie MSP, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative Party and Roseanna Cunningham MSP, deputy leader of the SNP on Friday 16 November. The series will resume after the Christmas break with Jack McConnell MSP, Tavish Scott MSP and Sir David Steel MSP.