Young Scots for Independence
Encyclopedia
Young Scots for Independence (YSI) (Sometimes termed SNP Youth) is the youth wing
of the Scottish National Party
(SNP). 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 entitled to formulate its own policies and devise its own campaigns. The YSI is represented on the SNP National Executive Committee and can send delegates to meetings of the SNP Annual National Conference.
Many YSI activists have since risen to prominence in the SNP, including Nicola Sturgeon
the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, former party leader John Swinney
, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and Fiona Hyslop
, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
, which asks people to vote via text message
"Scot yes" or Scot no" on the question "should Scotland be independent?".
A text referendum on nuclear weapons was also launched, which asks people to vote on whether they believe the Westminster Government should spend £25 billion on a new generation of nuclear missiles to be stored on the River Clyde
- 30 miles from Glasgow
.
Speaking at the launch, the then YSI National Convenor Aileen Campbell said: "I am really excited about this referendum. It will allow us to truly engage with young people across Scotland and give them an opportunity to express their views using modern every day technology. The Electoral Commission wants parties to take proactive steps to engage with young voters and not just use them as publicity stunts. So we are taking the initiative and are asking the young people of Scotland to make their views known about Scotland's constitutional future!"
The current branches are:
Youth wing
A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous or independently-allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support and allegiance for that organization's campaigns from members and potential members of a younger age...
of the Scottish National Party
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). It is not to be confused with Federation of Student Nationalists
Federation of Student Nationalists
The Federation of Student Nationalists is the student wing of the Scottish National Party , representing students in Scottish higher education...
, 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 entitled to formulate its own policies and devise its own campaigns. The YSI is represented on the SNP National Executive Committee and can send delegates to meetings of the SNP Annual National Conference.
Objectives
Its objectives are:- independence for ScotlandScottish independenceScottish 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....
; - the furtherance of all Scottish interests;
- to increase support for the aims and policies of the SNP amongst the youth of Scotland;
- to provide a political and social forum for the youth of Scotland;
- to further the interests of the youth of Scotland;
- to campaign against the continued presence of nuclear weapons in Scotland and the wider world.
History
The YSI is a youth organisation set up to campaign for Scottish independence through the Scottish National Party (SNP). It is independent of, though affiliated to, the SNP. Formed in the 1970s as the Young Scottish Nationalists the organisation changed its name to YSI in 1996 when the YSN underwent a complete reorganisation.Many YSI activists have since risen to prominence in the SNP, including Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon is the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy, Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party and Member for Glasgow Southside....
the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, former party leader 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...
, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and Fiona Hyslop
Fiona Hyslop
Fiona Hyslop is the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs and Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Linlithgow.-Family life and background:...
, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Text referendum
On 8 April 2006, the YSI launched a "text referendum" at the SNP Conference in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, which asks people to vote via text message
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
"Scot yes" or Scot no" on the question "should Scotland be independent?".
A text referendum on nuclear weapons was also launched, which asks people to vote on whether they believe the Westminster Government should spend £25 billion on a new generation of nuclear missiles to be stored on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
- 30 miles from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Speaking at the launch, the then YSI National Convenor Aileen Campbell said: "I am really excited about this referendum. It will allow us to truly engage with young people across Scotland and give them an opportunity to express their views using modern every day technology. The Electoral Commission wants parties to take proactive steps to engage with young voters and not just use them as publicity stunts. So we are taking the initiative and are asking the young people of Scotland to make their views known about Scotland's constitutional future!"
National Tour
The YSI, recently completed a National Tour of Scotland as part of the campaign for the Scottish General Elections. They visited target constituencies and telephone canvassed the rest. This meant that they campaigned in every constituency in Scotland. This played a part in the SNP victory, with every area that was physically visited being won in the election.National Executive Committee
- National Convener: David Linden
- Senior Vice Convener: Alan Masterton
- NationalSecretary: Tom Arthur
- National Treasurer: Michael Dixon
- National Director of Publicity: Kenny Murray
- Under 18's Rep: Austin Sheridan
- National Organiser: Janie Orr
- Membership Secretary: Conor McKay
- YSI Rep to the FSNFederation of Student NationalistsThe Federation of Student Nationalists is the student wing of the Scottish National Party , representing students in Scottish higher education...
: Ross Deans - Ordinary Executive Member: Craig Pringle
- Ordinary Executive Member: Ross Mcaffertty
- Ordinary Executive Member: TBC
- YSI Rep to the SNP NEC: David Linden
Branches
The YSI is split up into branches where there is a concentration of active members in a geographical area. Individual members who are not part of branches can, and do, become involved though participating on a more national scale.The current branches are:
- Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow
- Highlands (including Moray)
- Lanarkshire
- Lewis and Harris
- Lothians
- Young Asian Scots for Independence