Glasgow’s young election hopefuls reveal their campaign priorities

Kim Long, 30, is currently the first Green councillor in Glasgow North East, representing the Dennistoun ward. Already well versed in the issues affecting the community, she is hoping to take them to a national stage next year as a Green candidate for the Glasgow Regional List. After the economic damage the coronavirus pandemic has brought - particularly to young people - Long thinks that a green recovery should be the priority,

She said: “The big thing for us is we need to have a green recovery, that is about protecting people who are most vulnerable and marginalised. But we have a climate emergency and we have less than ten years to change how we heat our homes, how we travel and all of those things are really good in terms of anti-poverty. If we had a programme of retrofitting, it would create Green jobs, quality jobs and you have homes that would be warm.”

“We’re resonating with people - especially with young people. We’ve had some pretty important wins in terms of reversing the exam results fiasco and free bus travel for under 19s. Climate is really high on people’s agenda - especially young people.”

Young candidates standing for election offer suffer negativity and doubts from people about their experience to represent communities, but Long has hit out at this attitude. She said: ““I’m not here because I love the idea of being a politician, I’m here because I’m really angry about what I’ve experienced. I think I’ve been underestimated a lot. I don’t buy this idea that age equals competence or age equals life experience.”

This is a belief that is shared by young candidates across the political spectrum including Keiran O’Neill, who is the hopeful for Scottish Labour in the Maryhill and Springburn constituency.

He said: “I get it a lot. I do genuinely believe I have more life experience than people in their forties. I’ve worked since I was 14 and lived on my own since 17. This idea that age equals experience really annoys me. People under the age of 30 are severely under-represented in Scottish politics.”

O’Neill admits Labour has a challenge ahead of them in Scotland this year. - especially when it comes to young people. He said: “When you look at the polls nationally, it is worrying. I don’t take anything for granted. I’m still trying to be active in the local community. A pandemic has made it really difficult to run a campaign.”

O’Neill still believes that Labour have a lot to offer voters.

He said: “Labour is going to go into this election with the most progressive manifesto of any party in the history of devolution. We’re a different party, we’re there to listen and we’ll stand up for you.”

However, the Scottish Conservative hopeful for Glasgow Southside, Kyle Thornton believes that in his experience, voters like seeing a fresh face in politics and like the drive and determination youth brings.

First elected as a councillor for the Newlands/Auldburn ward on Glasgow City Council in 2017, Thornton believes that more and more people are turning to the Conservatives in places that might not traditionally be strong Conservative areas. He said: “we are the clear and unequivocal pro-Union party in Scotland. We believe that rather than promising the ‘jam tomorrow’ of independence that we should take action today on the real issues facing Scotland. We are clear in our opposition to a second independence referendum and people from communities across Scotland trust us to stand up for our nation’s place in the United Kingdom and to move Scotland on from the division and grievance of the SNP.”

Having joined the party in 2009, Thornton believes that the Scottish Conservatives has a real offer to make to young people. He said: “The Scottish Conservative offer the voice of change for young people in Scotland.

“Over the last 13 years, we’ve seen divisive nationalism try to break our country apart whereas I think younger people in particular want to see governments that try to solve issues rather than those that try to exploit them to break up our country.

“The Scottish Conservatives have exciting ideas about boosting teacher numbers, investing in upgrading our infrastructure and growing our economy to create good quality jobs.”

But, SNP hopeful for the Glasgow regional list, Christina Cannon, 23, believes it is their policies that are helping young people already. Cannon joined the party after the independence referendum and became more involved throughout her time at university. She said: “A lot of the SNP’s policies are doing well for young people such as free school meals at the weekend and we are always really equitably focused. We try to focus on the people that are most in need.”

Cannon believes young people need to have more representation in parliament both within her party and across Scotland. She is hopeful that young members will come forward in the next round of local elections to represent their communities.

She also believes there should be a bigger focus on education. She said: “Everything to me always comes back to education. How do we give people the best life chances to get to where they want in life?”