Young parliamentarians make a stand

THE SCOTTISH Youth Parliament will be focusing on its One Fair Wage campaign over coming months.

Newly elected Shetland MSYPs Kaylee Mouat has just returned from the 51st sitting of the parliament, which took place in South Lanarkshire.

Following the elections in March this year, 80 per cent of those present were new to the organisation. Outgoing Shetland MSYP Emily Shaw was also at the meeting.

On its first day the parliament passed two motions:

• Parents should not be allowed to smack children, and
• Family planning services should be increased within education inc. free contraception and free child care workshops.

On the second day members agreed to continue with its fair wage campaign, which was originally launched by the youth parliament in September last year.

Already a number of local councillors as well as national politicians have signed the petition demanding a living wage for working people.

The day concluded with the elections of the convener and vice convener for each of the ten subject committees.

Shetland will be represented in sport & leisure and transport, environment and rural affairs. 

Mouat said: “Overall the weekend presented a very positive future for the Scottish Youth Parliament, with former chair Grant Costello stating in his outgoing speech that the new membership was “full of passion and desire to succeed”.