Dear Martin,


I am writing to ask if you would consider delivering a lecture at the Dundee University Students Association inaugural Year of Democracy. The aim of the Year of Democracy is to host a series of events on campus which will help promulgate and inspire an environment of political awareness amongst our students.

I believe that you would be perfect for our campaign because of your interest in issues surrounding democracy.


The Year of Democracy is already inspiring a great deal of excitement and we are already working in partnership with the University to co-host a number of important lectures in 2009, including a keynote lecture by renowned international peace activist, Arun Gandhi, a speaking engagement with Moazzam Begg, a St Andrews' night lecture by distinguished Scottish historian, Professor Christopher Whatley on the impact of Robert Burns and a lecture on the life and death of democracy by Professor John Keane. We would be enormously honoured if you were able to join this powerful list of speakers. I feel sure that a lecture by you would attract a capacity audience. Ideally we would like to host the lectures any Wednesday evening between the end of January and May 2010 but we would be happy to consider any date and day of the week prior to January 2010 that would be convenient to you.


The University of Dundee is home to more than 15,000 students and 3,000 staff and has been short-listed as University of the Year twice in the past four years. It also generates the third highest research income per capita and is ranked in the top 20 universities in the UK. A key element of DUSA and the University's activities centres on public engagement.


This year we welcomed 23,000 people on to our campus to attend free lectures, musical events, our art school degree show opened by Erin O'Connor and the third Dundee Literary Festival which was opened this year by Gerald Scarfe and also featured David Peace, Adam Mars-Jones, Anne Fine and Professor John Gray.


We have hosted a range of world-class speakers here in Dundee over the past couple of years including Professor Lord Robert Winston and Dr Richard Dawkins (opposing views on science and religion), scientists Professor Carlos Frenk and Professor Steve Jones, writers such as Jung Chang and Naomi Klein (in her only Scottish event), Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney, Professor Sir John Sulston, Professor Sydney Brenner, journalists such as Andrew Marr, John Simpson and David Aaronovitch and film-makers such as Lord Puttnam and Jimi Murakami.


Our audiences are drawn from across Scotland and we regularly host up to 800 people in our new teaching centre, the Dalhousie Building, which features four inter-linked lecture theatres. We are working in partnership with Borders Bookshop who are happy to organise relevant book signings and sales.


I realise that you must receive lots of requests to speak but I would be most grateful if she could consider our request - I know our students would be inspired to hear you speak during our Year of Democracy and it would be a huge honour if you were able to join us in helping to raise awareness of the importance of democratic participation.


Best regards

Craig Kelly


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Clearly when you have had Dr Richard Dawkins, Robert Winston, Naomi Klein, and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney address you, the next name on your list is going to be Martin Kelner.

Anyway, I replied, saying what an absolute honour and privilege it would be to go to Dundee and talk to the students, but pointing out that my oeuvre is mostly in the field of semi-humour rather than anything more weighty, and suggesting that maybe Craig had confused me with someone else.

But no, he wrote back and said it was actually me he wanted, to talk about my courageous crusade, taking on the battalions of the mainstream media from a back bedroom in North Leeds. And also because he felt I might be a little more lavish with the jokes than Naomi Klein.

So it looks like it's going to happen, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I've never been to Dundee on the banks of the silvery Tay, so for someone who rarely gets out of the house (as advertised on Fighting Talk) it is quite thrilling.