Local MSYP on award shortlist

A YOUNG woman from Shetland is among five budding parliamentarians shortlisted for the Scottish Variety Awards Best Up and Coming Scottish Politician of the Year 2012.

Emily Shaw, from Lerwick, has been representing young Shetlanders as their member of the Scottish Youth Parliament since March 2011.

The 18 year old also the youth parliament’s representative on the Commission for Rural Education, which is examining how rural education can maximise the life chances of young people in the country’s remoter areas.

She regularly joins Shetland Islands Council delegations visiting Edinburgh to lobby parliament or the Scottish government.

Recently she was a member of a six strong council delegation that met with housing minister Keith Brown to discuss the high level of fuel poverty in the isles.

Ms Shaw said she felt privileged to have been nominated after a comparatively short time in the youth parliament.

“The Scottish Youth Parliament is a brilliant organisation and to be nominated for doing work which I enjoy so much is fantastic,” she said.

The Scottish Variety Awards are being sponsored by the Herald newspaper and Radio Clyde 1. Other categories at the awards are best Scottish actor or actress, best Scottish comedian and best new Scottish venue.

Voting takes place online via www.clyde1.com/sva

The winners will be announced during a “spectacular evening of glitz and glamour” at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel, on 24 March.