Scottish Youth Parliament engages directly with MSPs to champion priorities of young people

Aqeel Ahmed MSYP and Ross Greer MSP - credit SYP

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament are engaging directly with the MSPs in their constituency as part of an attempt to highlight the views and priorities of young people.

The initiative was launched this week at an event hosted by Scottish Green Ross Greer, the youngest ever MSP and former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MYSP).

Members discussed how they could work together to engage with young people in their constituencies, as well as discussing responses to the SYP consultation ‘Lead the Way’, which collated over 72,000 views of young people across Scotland.

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Greer said the event had been a success.

“The reception was a great opportunity for MSYPs to see just how valued their work is by those of us in the Scottish Parliament,” he told Holyrood.

“Given the large number of new MSPs it also gave many members of both parliaments a first opportunity to meet each other.”

 While Greer was an MSYP the Youth Parliament campaigned successfully on equal marriage and votes at 16, as well as a number of other issues.

“Not every young person thinks the same and we are of course not defined by age alone, but the Scottish Youth Parliament has been exceptionally effective in not just ensuring that young people’s voices are heard, but that necessary changes in policy are made as a result,” he said.

Current CSYP Vice Chair, Amy Lee Fraioli, MSYP for Rutherglen said she was grateful to the MSPs who had attended the event.

“We had some really powerful and important conversations surrounding young people's rightful involvement in the decisions that affect them and how we can work together in the future to ensure that this continues to happen,” she said.

Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney said the Scottish Government maintained a “constructive” relationship with the SYP.

“We want young people in Scotland to be successful and confident individuals, with opportunities to participate in local and national decision-making,” he said. “And increasingly, our young people are finding their voice and expressing their views on the issues that matter to them.”

Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said he had engaged with MYSPs from Moray and from Shetland.

“Emmie Main from Moray and Kelvin Anderson from Shetland both told me how high up tackling hate crime was on their agenda in Shetland and in Moray, as well as with young people across Scotland,” he said.

Main said: “The MSPs that we met and spoke to were so enthusiastic about the work we do and I'm excited to work with them in the future, as many pledged to continue contact and see what we can do locally!”

Aqeel Ahmed, MSYP for Glasgow Pollock said it had been an opportunity to showcase the work of the SYP.

“I think the event was incredibly beneficial as it gave me the chance to network and gain their knowledge. For the MSPs, it gave them an insight into the work of SYP, and some of their younger constituents' views so that they know what issues need tackling in their areas. It also paved the way for further discussion as to how we can work together to ensure young people are not only heard, but that the issues facing them are adequately addressed."

But will the engagement continue as MSPs find their diaries filling up with legislative duties? Greer, as a former MSYP, will no doubt keep them right.

He said: “I don’t think I endeared myself much to my colleagues when I pointed out that if all else fails, I am for now still young enough to go back to being a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament!”