A WHOLE host of prominent speakers are heading to the city to discuss topics from British and Russian politics to the history of the Spitfire and more.

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone joins Lord David Owen, the former Foreign Secretary; Terry Waite, the man taken hostage by Islamic Jihad in the 1980s; Tony Little, the former headmaster of Eton and Alison Weir in the line-up for the first Salisbury Journal Speakers Festival.

The event takes place today and tomorrow (March 24 and 25).

Ken Livingstone, a man who has often been in headlines over his long political career, will be giving his take on the future of governing Britain and will serve up an insider’s account of the Labour Party and its future, in Being Red.

Aviation expert Paul Beaver gives a fresh angle on the Spitfire by examining the contribution to its development and achievements by some 65 people - ranging from politicians to pilots.

Spitfire People: The Men and Women Who Made the Spitfire the Aviation Icon is at Godolphin School on Saturday at 1.30pm.

From the conflict in Syria to the crisis in Ukraine, Russia continues to dominate the headlines.

Yet the political realities of contemporary Russia are poorly understood by Western observers and policy-makers.

Dr Andrew Monaghan explains why we tend to misunderstand Russia - and the importance of ‘getting Russia right’ in his talk The New Politics of Russia on Friday, 5pm.

And delve into history with Alison Weir, who draws on new research to tell the story of Henry VIII’s first wife - Katherine of Aragon - on Friday, 3.15pm.

Salisbury Journal editor and publisher Bill Browne said: “In a time when we are fed so many sound-bites it is just occasionally good to afford quality time to an expert, to talk about the knowledge they have gained and the experiences they have of a particular subject.

“The Salisbury Journal Speakers Festival offers just this, across a wide range of subjects.

“Better still there will be an opportunity at the end of each talk to question the speaker.

“I’m looking forward to spending two days in the company of some great speakers because I know that my outlook on the world we live in will be challenged once more.”

Tickets need to be purchased from salisburyjournalspeakersfestival.com or by calling 0333 666 3366. Alternatively, tickets can be bought on the door (cash only).