Anum’s aiming to stand for SNP
Contender wants parliament to be reflective of Scotland
After Uddingston and Bellshill MSP Richard Lyle recently announced his retirement, the SNP are due to select a new candidate to stand in next year’s Holyrood election.
And it’s down to five contenders – with the balloting currently open until Friday, November 6.
One member hoping to succeed Richard is Anum Qaisar-javed, a modern studies teacher who would become Scotland’s first female Muslim MSP if elected.
“I was politically awoken when 9/11 happened and Tony Blair invaded Iraq so I wrote to him”, Anum explained. “I got a response but I realised that if I wanted to make a change then I have to be actively engaged in politics.
“I was involved in the referendum, I’ve worked for parliamentarians, I teach politics in school, so it genuinely has been my life.
“I’ve had discussions with young people about why there has been a lack of representation. If I’ve got that experience then I should consider putting myself forward to be a voice for people of colour, for teachers and for young people.”
Fair representation is an area Anum wants to improve for the better in society.
After experiencing racial abuse herself, she knows the importance of education and messages of equality to make significant change.
And her bid is particularly unique in that there has never been a woman MSP from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background – which she feels makes the challenge twice as hard.
Anum added: “If we look at the Scottish Parliament it has to be reflective of Scottish society and it’s not right now. There are two Muslim men and that only represents a small number of the community. There has to be change.
“I don’t want to be seen as the brown MSP, I want people to represent people no matter what ethnicity you are. When I’m in class and look at social inequality, looking at age, gender and race, with women we see a glass ceiling, a barrier where you cannot progress in, but if you’re a woman of colour there’s a concrete barrier – so we need to make sure Parliament is representative as well as all other sectors.
“We’re going to have young people of colour looking at Parliament, schools, charities and private companies and seeing themselves not reflected in that, and that’s what I want to change.
“There are small steps being taken but significant steps –but we still have a long way to go.”
Anum also wants to focus on mental health and job recovery from Covid if she is chosen to stand in next year’s election and explained: “Mental health and education is really important, and the pandemic is bringing so many challenges for young people.
“Since March there’s a sense of resilience that has developed in young people, but there has to be more mental health support.
“If I was elected, one of my key priorities would be to provide mental health training and help to school staff.
“I want to improve the availability of mental health appointments and waiting times because the pandemic has had a massive impact on everyone.
“Locally, there is a lack of affordable housing and I would be looking to work with both South and North Lanarkshire Councils. I have direct experience in tackling housing issues.
“Jobs and Covid recovery is going to be a key issue, so I’d want to have a localised approach, working with Skills Development Scotland and local organisations.
“And, of course, I will be advocating for an independent Scotland. The appetite is changing over the last six years, with Brexit and Covid there’s been a lack of a four-nations approach.
“Scotland’s voice has been ignored, and I truly believe that the sooner we’re free from the shackles of Westminster we can sooner protect the vulnerable of our society.”
The Parliament has to be reflective of Scottish society and it’s not right now