The Scottish Parliament elections and the candidates advocating for independence – what do we want from them and what purpose do they serve?

The SNP candidate elections heat up as the nomination date has passed. Many areas are looking at very diverse contests to push forward great new ideas for constituencies across the country. Forward thinking activists are taking the leap to represent areas they have a close relationship with as we approach the ‘independence parliament’ for arguably the most crucial period in Scotland’s history. Across Scotland, 14 MSPs have stepped down from the SNP for varying reasons but most notably MSPs who are older are taking a step back.

I admire the many senior members of our party who have stepped down from Holyrood to contribute to the independence movement at a grassroots level. The independence movement needs to be more inclusive, engaging and determined than ever before and this journey starts with our political representation at Holyrood. Some may view this as a ‘brain drain’ on the independence supporting members in the Scottish Parliament but I would disagree.

Scotland’s future is a blank canvass with independence, and I believe diversity in representation is required to paint the portrait of the prosperous nation we all desire. Scottish independence consistently finds it’s most potent supporter base from young people. Across any poll I have found, every single time when the analysis is shown, 16 to 30 year olds are always in favour of the yes vote in the highest proportion. We have seen the benefits of young representation in the likes of Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf over the last parliamentary term. But where is the push for more young representation?

I feel as if the issue largely lies in the process of how we elect our parliamentarians. Where we find there are safe seats, some of our representatives choose to become complacent in relation to their interaction with their branch membership and executive, not campaigning for elections besides their own and not interacting with other elected members from the same area.  This is definitely counterintuitive to progressing the independence movement at a political level. However, there is a real difficulty in challenging an incumbent who has the ‘home advantage’ especially for potential younger nominees.

I am a firm believer in independence and creating a fairer, more prosperous Scotland. I believe we do ourselves a disservice when we fail to reflect the diversity of our youthful movement within Holyrood as we reach the moments before our next referendum. The architects in the early days of a new independent nation, those who will be asked to lay the foundation of a new Scotland, should be reflective of those whose lives will be most affected in the long term – the young people. 

Junaid Ashraf is a parliamentary contestant for the SNP seeking candidacy in Glasgow Cathcart against incumbent James Dornan.

This article was originally published in the Scots Independent (October 2020)