The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Constance steps up to be next Scots deputy
Cabinet secretary set to throw her hat into the ring
A second Scottish Governmentministerhasemerged as a contender to be the next deputy leader of the SNP.
Angela Constance, cabinet secretary for training, youth and women’s employment, said her campaign would be based on continuing to make the case for independence.
The 44-year-old is the MSPforAlmondValleyand will formally throw her hat in the ring at Loganlea MinersWelfare Club at Addiewell in West Lothian this morning.
Ms Constance, a motherof-one and a former social worker, was first elected to Holyrood in 2007 and is known for her quirky footwear.
She was elevated to the Scottish cabinet in April as part of a move to ensure women were better represented on what could be described as Scotland’s “company board”.
Transport Minister Keith Brown– MSPforClackmannanshire and Dunblane – and Dundee East SNP MP Stewart Hosie also hope to replace Nicola Sturgeon as deputy party leader.
Ms Sturgeon, MSP for Glasgow Southside, is to date the only person in the running to replace Alex SalmondasSNPleaderand first minister of Scotland.
Her nomination is backed by most of the cabinet.
A senior UK Government minister is urging young people to consider standing for the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the move would be a “fantastic way” for them to get involved in mainstream politics.
The MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey spoke out as nominations for candidates, aged 14-25, opened this week.
The contest to elect 150 people, who will take at least two seats in every Scottish Parliament constituency, is taking place from March next year.
Interest in politics is at a record high due to the independence referendum and 90.1% of 121,497 people aged 16 and 17 across Scotland registered to vote.
Louise Cameron, chairwoman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, has called on political leaders to include lowering the voting age in all elections to 16 as part a new devolution settlement for Scotland and the United Kingdom.
The 18-year-old parliament member for Moray said the level ofengagement in the referendum among young people was “something to be celebrated”.