FANCY a full-blooded argument about whether David Cameron has been good for the country? Keen to know more about York's place in history? Or simply looking for a list of good reasons to keep going in 2015?

Then the York Literature Festival, at venues across the city from March 19-29, will be the place for you.

Festival director Miles Salter has secured a dazzling line-up for 2015. Polly Toynbee, The Guardian's veteran left-leaning political columnist, will be at the Temple Hall, York St John University, on March 19 to give her own take on the Cameron years.

Presented jointly with her colleague David Walker, contributing editor of Guardian Public, the talk is entitled Cameron's Coup: How The Tories Took Britain To The Brink. Don't expect it to be either dry or unbiased.

Woman's Hour's Dame Jenni Murray will be at St Peter's School on Saturday March 21 to talk about her life and career; and the following day, Sunday March 22, TV historian Dr David Starkey will take the stage at the Grand Opera House to discuss York's place in history.

On Monday, March 23, meanwhile, York author Matt Haig will be in Waterstones to talk about his new book 'Reasons to stay alive'. It's not just a clever title. When he was 24, Matt - the author of sublime novels such as The Humans and To Be A Cat - nearly killed himself.

He was later diagnosed with panic disorder, a condition from which he eventually recovered. But he's gone on record as saying writing 'might even have saved my life'. Expect his talk to be moving and funny, in a way only Matt can manage.

Other festival highlights include comedian John Hegley teaming up with York band Blackbeard's Tea Party for an afternoon of music and comedy; an evening of stories about York City Football Club, hosted by The Press's own football reporter Dave Flett, Radio York's Sharon Shortle, and former York City legend Chris Jones; and a range of workshops - including literary agents offering advice on how to submit your own writing to the people who matter. Not one to be missed, that, for anyone who aspires to see their own work in print...

• A full 2015 York Literature Festival programme is available now at www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk or follow the festival on Twitter @YorkLitFest