Never too young to run

SNP MP FOR WEST ABERDEENSHIRE AND KINCARDINE

When I was elected as MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in 2015, I was 23 years, eight months and three days old.

I’m currently the youngest male MP at Westminster and I’m only behind my SNP colleague Mhairi Black as the second youngest parliamentarian in the House of Commons.

Mhairi became the youngest MP for 300 years when she was elected at the age of 20. This for me speaks volumes, both for where politics has been in the past and how it is changing.

The international classification for a young MP is under 45 but, given the average age of those elected at the last general election was 50, this is hardly a surprise.

What concerns me, though, is that the perception of the House of Commons as being a room full of grey men in grey suits isn’t helped by these statistics.

Are young people truly represented in today’s politics?

Our current generation of young people is the largest the world has ever known. Half of the global population is under 30, yet young people are starkly under-represented at virtually every level of government and politics.

I’d never argue that all politicians should be under 30. We need diversity of age, race, gender and background in political arenas, but young people must have their place.

It was a privilege to recently lead a debate in parliament on the UN’s Not Too Young to Run campaign, which aims to encourage young people to run for office.

One of the most fantastic parts of my job is being invited to local schools in Aberdeenshire to talk to young people about my job.

Young people are more politically engaged than ever. In the eight years since I left secondary school, the popularity of modern studies has soared.

Young people have a voice and they want to heard. This was highlighted during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum when the vote was extended to 16 and 17year-olds. An estimated 66% of 16 and 17-year-olds registered to vote and the turnout in that age range was 75%.

With regular access to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, all ages are now exposed to a wider range of political views.

Young people ask intelligent and well-reasoned questions at school visits and are, generally, more comfortable in having political disagreements, and less prone to a political over-reaction than some of their elders.

At a time where political debates can produce more heat than light, young people, are leading the way on open and constructive debating.

There are many political forums available for young people to join – from the Scottish and UK Youth Parliaments to Youth Councils.

Young people are our future and it’s heartening to watch youth representatives debate at Westminster or meet local Aberdeenshire youth councillors and MSYPs. I wish all those currently taking part in the Scottish Youth Parliament elections all the best.

However, it’s important to emphasise that getting involved in politics and democracy is not only about party politics. There are other ways that young people can become politically active, such as in community councils, community groups, charities or single issue groups. If you are care deeply enough about something, why not get involved and make a difference?

In the wake of the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump, we saw people taking to the streets in protest. It was fantastic to see their passion, but politics is not just about protesting or having a Facebook or Twitter rant. Nor is it just about writing a letter to a newspaper.

If you have passion or strong feelings about an issue, harness it and make use of it. If you think the level of debate in politics is poor, get involved. If you believe politicians aren’t representing your views, or if you feel you can do a better job, get involved.

The Scottish local authority elections are coming up on May 4. If you are not going to run please make sure you vote. You could be the one who makes a difference.