The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rising stars inspired by AOC, Malala and Greta
Ageneration of young women in Scotland are being inspired to be politically active by global figures such as Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, Jacinda Ardern, Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg.
The role models were among those named by the rising stars in Scottish politics who have taken part in our Generation Next project.
We interviewed 35 people under the age of 35 who are from north of the central belt and who have been tipped to have a bright future in politics by their colleagues.
Each was asked to name their “political hero”, with Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez singled out by four participants, a number topped only by Charles Kennedy.
Also known by her initials AOC, the progressive Democratic congresswoman in the US has become a high-profile critic of US President Donald Tr u m p and amassed millions of social media followers.
Ma e Diansangu, a Scottish Greens activist and Black Lives Matter ( BLM) co- ordinator in Aberdeen, said she was an inspiration.
“I think a lot of young people on the left would attest to that, because for me she actually represents what the left is,” she said.
“Not this kind of liberal or neo-liberal or Democrat or New Labour left, but a real, actual left and I think where she has come from, her background, how she got into politics, it’s just very real, authentic.
“She has no agenda other than to just really change the system and I think her politics are spot-on, pretty much.”
Miriam Brett, a thinktank research director and former SNP candidate in Orkney and Shetland, also named AOC and “the Squad”, an informal group of Congress members that also includes Ilhan Omar, Ay a n n a Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
“For me, I just find that whole movement incredibly inspirational,” Ms Brett said.
Aude Boubaker-Calder, a Liberal Democrat candidate in Dunfermline, was another who described Ms Ocasio- Cortez as her “hero”.
“She is my political hero because, first of all, she is a woman and I think because there are so few women in politics that it is important to recognise them,” she said.
“She is a fierce woman.
She’s fighting against social injustice but also against sexism in politics, which unfortunately is happening quite often everywhere in the world.”
Deena Tissera, a Sri Lanka-born PhD student and Labour activist in Aberdeen, took inspiration from New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
“She became a mother while being a prime minister of the country,” she said.
“She fought the pandemic, she fought the terror attack, all with great leadership and compassion.
“She has broken all kinds of stereotypes of what a female political leader should be. I just think she is great.”
Cailyn McMahon, national convener of the Yo u n g Scots for Independence, pointed to AOC as we l l as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who she said was humble, relatable and an inspiration to young women.
Hanna Louise, a 24-yearold postgraduate student and Green activist in Aberdeen, named 17-yearold Swedish environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg.
“My main political hero at the moment is Greta Thunberg and all the other young people around the world who are fighting for climate justice, because I just think that is so inspirational,” she said.
“It go e s to s h o w, it doesn’t matter how young you are, you can still use your voice to fight for what you believe in.”
For Julie Ford, the SNP depute provost of Fife, the Pa k i s t a n i education campaigner and Nobel Prize laureate Ma l a l a Yousafzai is a source of inspiration.
“Her courage and her resilience and her determination in challenging the attempts to halt her fight for an education for girls should inspire us all,” she said.
Other female figures who have been hailed as heroes by the Generation Next participants include former Irish president Mary Patricia McAleese, former MSP and campaigner Margo MacDonald, former Conservative prime ministers Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher, Green MSP Alison Johnstone, German Green politician Petra Kelly and Fife-born former Labour MP and minister Jennie Lee.