Draft:Young Scots for Independence
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Young Scots for Independence | |
---|---|
Convenor | Steven Campbell |
National Secretary | Callum Cox |
Treasurer | Maya Hay |
Founded | 1970s |
Preceded by | Young Scottish Nationalists |
Ideology | Scottish independence |
Mother party | Scottish National Party |
Website | https://ysi.scot |
Young Scots for Independence (also known as YSI) is the youth wing of the Scottish National Party (SNP), representing members aged 16-30 in Scotland. It was formed in the 1970s.
The YSI maintains autonomy from the SNP and as such is entitled to formulate its own policies and run its own campaigns.
The organisation has regional branches that correspond to the Scottish Parliament electoral regions
History
[edit]The organisation was formed in the 1970s. Key figures were Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison who would both later become SNP members of the Scottish Parliament, with Sturgeon becoming First Minister of Scotland in 2014.
It has played an active part in the affairs of the SNP and is represented on the party's National Executive Committee, in the past with a representative position shared with SNP Students, but now each organisation has its own representative.
It has informal links with Plaid Ifanc, the youth wing of Plaid Cymru, and is also a part of the European Free Alliance Youth. [1]
Activity
[edit]Young Scots for Independence has been very active in recent years, supporting high-profile campaigns such as the Tie Campaign, which support teaching young people about LGBT issues. [2]
In 2012, during the SNP's policy change on NATO membership of an independent Scotland, Young Scots for Independence publicly came out in favour of retaining the anti-NATO policy,[3] however at SNP conference the vote was lost despite YSI delegates voting against, and as a result the SNP is now pro-NATO. In 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the YSI voted for the organisation to support NATO membership, ending decades of opposition [4]
Organisation
[edit]The organisation is run by a National Executive Committee (NEC) elected each year at the SNP Students' Annual Conference. The Committee currently comprises a Convener, Vice Convener, Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Equalities Officer, Women's Officer, Political Education Officer, and Communications Officer.
Role | Name |
---|---|
National Convener | Steven Campbell |
National Vice-Convener | Luke Smith |
National Secretary | Ailig Garbh-Dòmhnallach |
National Treasurer | Maya Hay |
National Organiser | Callum Cox |
National Communications Officer | Christopher Braik |
National Political Education Officer | Eilidh McIntosh |
National Events & Fundraising Officer | Alex Eaves |
National Equalities Officer | Temisan Atsegoh |
National Women's Officer | Sadie Matthews |
International Officer | Richard McKeever |
Central Scotland Regional Representative | Ross Clark |
Glasgow Regional Representative | Alexander Bradley |
Lothian Regional Representative | Jacob Ross |
North East Scotland Regional Representative | Airlie Robertson |
References
[edit]- ^ "Organisation - EFAY". Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (9 November 2018). "Scotland to embed LGBTI teaching across curriculum". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Whitaker, Andrew (7 August 2012). "Guerrilla campaign plotted by SNP rebels in Nato row". The Scotsman. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Matchett, Conor (22 May 2022). "SNP youth wing backs Nato membership in significant policy shift". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
Category:Scottish National Party Category:Youth wings of political parties in Scotland