Federation of Student Nationalists
Encyclopedia
The Federation of Student Nationalists (FSN) (sometimes termed SNP Students) is the student wing of the Scottish National Party
(SNP), representing students in Scottish
higher education
. It was formed in the 1960s when various student organisations supportive of Scottish independence
and the Scottish National Party in particular decided to join forces into a new constituent body.
It is not to be confused with Young Scots for Independence
, which is the youth wing of the SNP - the FSN is for those in higher education, and membership is not restricted by age.
The FSN is an autonomous body from the SNP and as such can devise its own policies, publicity and campaigns. Unlike the SNP it is expressly republican
, and has in the past exhibited socialist sentiments.
and Allan MacCartney who would both later become SNP members of the European Parliament
.
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 the Young Scots for Independence
, but now each organisation has its own representative. The FSN can send delegates to the SNP Annual National Conference and meetings of its National Council.
In the 2000 SNP Leadership campaign the FSN supported Alex Neil who lost to John Swinney
. In the two subsequent leadership campaigns the organisation did not officially endorse any candidate.
It has informal links with Cymru X
, the youth wing of Plaid Cymru
.
In September 2008 FSN caused controversy by opposing the SNP-led Scottish Government's proposal to raise the minimum purchase age for alcohol in off-sales from 18 to 21.http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/We-oppose-the-SNP-plan.4511562.jp
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP), representing students in Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
higher education
Education in Scotland
Scotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
. It was formed in the 1960s when various student organisations supportive of Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
and the Scottish National Party in particular decided to join forces into a new constituent body.
It is not to be confused with Young Scots for Independence
Young Scots for Independence
Young Scots for Independence is the youth wing of the Scottish National Party . It is not to be confused with Federation of Student Nationalists, which is for those in higher education, and whose membership is not restricted by age, unlike the YSI.The YSI is autonomous from the SNP and as such is...
, which is the youth wing of the SNP - the FSN is for those in higher education, and membership is not restricted by age.
The FSN is an autonomous body from the SNP and as such can devise its own policies, publicity and campaigns. Unlike the SNP it is expressly republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
, and has in the past exhibited socialist sentiments.
History
Key figures in the formation of the FSN were Neil MacCormickNeil MacCormick
Sir Neil MacCormick, QC, FBA, FRSE , or just Neil MacCormick, was a legal philosopher and Scottish politician. He was Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh from 1972 until 2008...
and Allan MacCartney who would both later become SNP members of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
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 the Young Scots for Independence
Young Scots for Independence
Young Scots for Independence is the youth wing of the Scottish National Party . It is not to be confused with Federation of Student Nationalists, which is for those in higher education, and whose membership is not restricted by age, unlike the YSI.The YSI is autonomous from the SNP and as such is...
, but now each organisation has its own representative. The FSN can send delegates to the SNP Annual National Conference and meetings of its National Council.
In the 2000 SNP Leadership campaign the FSN supported Alex Neil who lost to John Swinney
John Swinney
John Ramsey Swinney is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire North, having previously represented North Tayside...
. In the two subsequent leadership campaigns the organisation did not officially endorse any candidate.
It has informal links with Cymru X
Cymru X
CymruX is the youth wing of Plaid Cymru, a political party in Wales.-Origins:CymruX was founded in 2005 to merge Plaid Cymru's two existing movements in to one new youth movement. The student federation 'the ffed' and the youth movement were merged to create a brand new youth organisation...
, the youth wing of Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
.
In September 2008 FSN caused controversy by opposing the SNP-led Scottish Government's proposal to raise the minimum purchase age for alcohol in off-sales from 18 to 21.http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/We-oppose-the-SNP-plan.4511562.jp
Current office holders
- National Convener: Gail Lythgoe, Edinburgh University Scottish Nationalist Association (EUSNA).
- Vice Convener: Fiona Gardner, Edinburgh University Scottish Nationalist Association (EUSNA).
- Secretary: Gary Cocker, Dundee University Student Nationalist Association (DUSNA).
- Organiser: Andrew Philbin MVP, Stirling University Scottish Nationalist Association (SUSNA).
- Treasurer: Fiona Gardner, Edinburgh University Student Nationalist Association (EUSNA).
- IT Officer: Cevin, Stirling University Scottish Nationalist Association (SUSNA).
- Publicity Officer: Michael Hutchison, Aberdeen University Scottish Nationalist Association (AUSNA).
- Ordinary Executive Members: Euan Campbell, Edinburgh University Student Nationalist Association (EUSNA), Angus MacLeod (Aonghas Mac Leòid), Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association. (GUSNA)