“I can not be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance. He is not my Sovereign; he never received my homage; and whilst life is in this persecuted body, he never shall receive it.” -William Wallace
SNP YOUTH-WING WILL PUT VOTES @ 16 ON THE ADGENDA IN GENERAL ELECTION
The Young Scots for Independence [YSI], the SNP’s youth-wing, has today outlined its campaign focus for 2010. The YSI, whose membership base comprises largely of under-18s, will endeavour to put electoral reform for young people on the Scottish political agenda in the run-up to this year’s general election.
The SNP has long supported a reduction in the voting age to 16, an issue which featured heavily in the Party’s 2007 National Conference. This year will see its youth-wing put pressure on other parties to stand up and be counted - to give firm and solid assurances that they will support the SNP in seeking to lower the voting age.
YSI National Convener, Michael Dixon, has today warned the Unionist parties in Scotland to “get behind the SNP on this”, and support an extension of democratic rights to 16 and 17 year olds. Over the coming months the YSI will be piling on the pressure, writing to Unionist MPs and PPCs alike, to find out exactly what they would do to further this issue if sent to Westminster.
Speaking as the YSI sets out its campaign aims for the coming year, Mr Dixon said:-
“This year is shaping up to be a very interesting year politically. The SNP are in a very strong position heading into an election year, and are well up for task of standing up for Scotland’s interests. It is in Scotland’s interests to lower the voting age to 16.
“With Jim Murphy dithering over additional, necessary powers for the Scottish Parliament, it doesn’t look like this will be an issue the Holyrood can deal with any time soon. That is why it is imperative that Scotland sends a strong block of SNP MPs to Westminster, to force the London parties to take notice of what is a very important and pressing issue for young Scots.
“There is a broad consensus in favour of lowering the voting age in Scotland, with many youth organisations, not least the Scottish Youth Parliament, fervently backing the move. Now it’s time for the Unionist parties in Scotland to get behind the SNP on this, and put petty party bickering aside in the best interests of Scotland’s young people.
“16 and 17 year olds in Scotland are electorally gagged. They are blocked from making their views known on a whole host of issues that affect their day-to-day lives. This is wholly undemocratic, and incongruous with our Scottish value of equality and fairness.
“The SNP realised a long time ago that this was a major issue for young Scots. Now it’s time for the Unionist parties in Scotland to catch up, and give us their assurances that they will do everything they possibly can to secure proper democratic rights for young Scots.”
Notes:
The YSI first raised this issue in 2007 at SNP Annual Conference in Aviemore. This received much media attention, and put the issue firmly on the Scottish political radar: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/397213/SNP-calls-for-voting-at-16.html
In September 2009, the then SNP Constitution Minister Mike Russell announced plans for 16 year olds to be given the vote in the proposed independence referendum, after a YSI member wrote to Aileen Campbell MSP [Former YSI National Convener] on the issue. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8264446.stm
On 4th November, the YSI challenged Iain Gray to come out in support of Votes @ 16, after it emerged that Gordon Brown was in support of extension of the franchise. Brown had revealed that he was personally in favour of the move during PMQs that day, but gave no assurances as to what action he would take to implement a reduction in the voting age.
Big Brother Star to Work with YSI
DIXON WELCOMES BIG BROTHER STAR TO THE SNP
BB STAR IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE
YSI National Convener, Michael Dixon, has today welcomed Big Brother star Mikey Hughes to the SNP, as Hughes confirmed he would be joining the party.
Mikey was a runner up in 2008 Big Brother, and stood as an independent candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election. He says he, “can’t wait to get started working with the SNP to inspire Scotland’s young people to get into politics and to back independence for a better future.”
Mr Dixon will be arranging a meeting with Hughes very soon to discuss his ideas surrounding youth issues.
Speaking as he welcomed Hughes to the SNP, Dixon said:-
“I was very pleased to hear of Mikey Hughes’ decision to join the SNP. Mikey is very enthusiastic about young people, in particular sparking political interest in young Scots.
“The SNP is a party that truly spans the generations, with highly active youth and student-wings. Engaging with young people in Scottish politics is a priority for the YSI, as we seek to act as a sounding-board for young people within the SNP. I would be very interested to hear Mikey’s ideas on how he would like to go about working with that YSI to engage young Scots in the political process.
“I will be arranging a meeting with Mikey in the very near future, and look forward to discussing political youth engagement with him. He is a fantastic addition to our party.”
Tories Plan to Ignore Scotland
Only the SNP will promote Scotland's interests at Westminster as the Tories confirm they will ignore Scottish seats if they win the General Election.
Scottish Conservative Leader Annabel Goldie, has dismissed the importance of Scotland in the General Election confirming the Conservatives focus on voters only in England.
Commenting, Mr Robertson said:
“For Annabel Goldie to say that the way Scotland votes in a general
election doesn’t matter shows the Tories cloaked in their old
anti-Scottish colours.
“Whoever forms the next Government – Labour or Tory – plan to slash the Scottish budget. Scotland needs champions who will speak up for Scottish services. The General Election has never mattered more north of the Border – and SNP champions have never mattered more to Scotland.
“Ms Goldie’s speech is a return to the Tories’ North British roots – which were out-of-time decades ago – and will be enormously damaging to them in the election campaign in Scotland. This is a pre-election blunder – another gaffe by Annabel – which also concedes that they are set to remain on the fringes of Scottish politics.
"The reality is that the General Election in Scotland will be a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour - and the most recent Scottish poll for Westminster put the SNP ahead, at 34 per cent, compared to 32 per cent for Labour, 15 per cent for the Tories, and 12 per cent for the Lib Dems.
"And an analysis of all elections held throughout 2009 - totalling nearly 1 million votes from the European Parliament, and Westminster and local by-elections - showed that the SNP secured the most votes of any party in Scotland, achieving a 10 per cent swing from Labour on a 4-way party split.
"The real fight in 2010 is not the phoney war between Labour and Tory - the tweedledum and tweedledee of politics. The real fight is for Scotland, and only the SNP will champion Scotland’s interests at
Westminster.”
