A special day of books and politics is part of Glasgow's book festival to mark the year of the General Election.

Aye Write! is staging a day of discussions with writers and politicians this year called Write On! for the first time.

Topics being covered include the centenary of the Glasgow rent strikes, the "war on drugs" and the challenge of engaging young people in debate.

Figures involved in the day of discussions and panels include Rick Edwards, Polly Toynbee, Johann Hari and Georgia Gould and Maria Fyfe, as well as Herald and Sunday Herald columnists Iain Macwhirter and David Torrance.

The sessions, climaxing in a debate, will be held in the the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, and will be held outwith the normal Aye Write! dates, on March 28.

The main Aye Write! 2015 will take place from April 17 to 25.

Writers already revealed for the festival include Irvine Welsh and Alexander McCall Smith.

Bob McDevitt, Aye Write's new programmer, said: "This is an incredible line-up and one which builds on Aye Write's reputation as a festival where the written word gets audiences to think and challenge societal norms.

"This is my first year as programmer and with Wee Write! beginning on Monday and the Aye Write! festival returning in April, I'm delighted that we are providing a great line-up of authors and commentators who will bring real passion and debate to the Write On! stage."

This year is the tenth birthday for Aye Write.

Tickets for Write On go on sale on February 28.

As part of the programme, Maria Fyfe and J David Simons will analyse the Glasgow Rent Strikes of 1915, in which 30,000 people protested against rent increases, led by figures suich as Mary Barbour.

Owen Dudley-Edwards and David Torrance will discuss the "psyche of political leaders" in another event, James Meek will talk about how "Britain's common wealth became private".

Polly Toynbee and David Walker will "deliver their verdict on the Conservative led coalition" and Michael Keating, Henry McLeish and Robin McAlpine will discuss "politics and power."

Iain Macwhirter Torrance will also discuss whether "Politics in Scotland Been Changed for Good?" in a lunchtime session about the independence referendum.