SNP Launch New Drive for Diversity in Political Life

Ahmad Scholarship Launched at SNP Equalities Conference
The SNP has today launched a new initiative tasked with encouraging a greater number of black, Asian and minority ethnic people into political decision making in Scotland.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf MSP and Scotland’s first female Asian MP Tasmina Ahmed Sheik will co-chair a taskforce to explore the barriers facing those entering politics and public life, with a view to overcoming those obstacles.

Their work will include establishing a new Bashir Ahmad Scholarship programme, launched today at the SNP Equalities Day, which brings together conventions for black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members, LGBTI+ members, and Disabled members at the SECC in Glasgow.

The scholarship, named in memory of the late SNP MSP Bashir Ahmad, will provide political mentoring and internship opportunities to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members of the SNP. Bashir Ahmad made history in 2007 when he was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing Glasgow on the regional list. He was the first Asian-Scot and non-white parliamentarian to sit in Holyrood. Bashir died in February 2009.

Setting out her commitment to increase diversity in politics and Scottish public life, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said:

"I am proud to lead a party that celebrates the diversity of our nation. From Bashir Ahmad, the first minority ethnic Scot elected to the Scottish Parliament, to Humza Yousaf, the first minority ethnic Scot appointed to government and Tasmina-Ahmed Sheik, the first minority ethnic woman elected to Westminster from Scotland, it is the SNP that has led the way in making significant cracks in the glass ceiling.

“However, we must go further. The Scottish Parliament, Westminster and our council chambers must reflect the multicultural tartan of Scotland. I want our party to not only celebrate diversity but actively ensure we reflect that diversity.

“The Bashir Ahmad Scholarship programme will provide political mentoring and internship opportunities to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Scots.

“And I have asked Humza Yousaf and Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh to co-chair a working group on behalf of the SNP to explore the barriers facing those entering politics and public life, with a view to overcoming those obstacles.

“The SNP is committed to a wholly inclusive Scotland – whether you are from Pakistan or Poland, Ireland or India, the SNP wants you as part of our movement.

“In the words of Bashir Ahmad, ‘it doesn't matter where you come from, what matters is where we go together as a nation’.”

Looking ahead to the work of the taskforce Humza Yousaf, who worked for Bashir Ahmad, added:

"Without the vision and drive of the late, great Bashir Ahmad I simply wouldn't be in the position I am in today. His efforts made it possible for me, and hopefully a future generation of minority ethnic Scots, to get involved in politics. However, it would be a mistake to think the job is done, as a nation we need to be more representative of Scottish society in all layers of our political system.

"I am delighted that the SNP has launched the Bashir Ahmad Scholarship and it is a real pleasure to co-Chair the Working Group to look at how we can make our party more reflective of Scotland's multicultural landscape."

The SNP’s Equalities Convener, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh added:

“The SNP has equality at its core. We are an inclusive, socially progressive party, with a forward-thinking membership.

“Achieving a proper balance of candidates and elected representatives who are fully reflective of all those we seek to represent, is a process and not an event. It takes time, effort and planning to deliver this kind of positive advancement.

“I’m really looking forward to co-chairing the Working Group with Humza and taking our commitment to inclusivity from strength to strength.”

SNP Welcome Further Support For Votes At 16

Humza Yousaf MSP has welcomed strong support for the extension of voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds from the chief executive of the Young Scot organisation.

Writing in Third Force News, Louise MacDonald says:

"The narrative seems to be taking hold that those in favour of the IndyRef believe including 16 and 17 year-olds will boost their vote, because young people will be more likely to vote “Yes” to independence.... that argument is another disservice to democracy – the principle must be whether young people should have a democratic vote in the decisions that affect them now and in the years to come. It is not “we’ll only let them vote if we can predict which way they will go” – imagine disenfranchising any other group in society on that basis?"

Mr Yousaf, the SNP's youngest MSP, said:

"Louise MacDonald's case in support of enfranchising 16 and 17 year olds is unanswerable. As she points out, 16 and 17 year olds are not the citizens of tomorrow, they are the citizens of today - and they deserve have their say on the future of their country.

"The arguments of those who would continue to deny 16 and 17 year olds the vote are undemocratic, patronising and discriminatory. They make baseless assumptions about the ability of young people to participate in the democratic process and - as Louise MacDonald points out - seem to be driven more by suppositions about how young people will vote, rather than any principled position on whether they should be able to vote.

"The claim by some who have previously supported votes at 16 - such as Scottish Secretary Michael Moore - that 16 and 17 year olds should only be allowed to vote in the referendum if they can vote in all elections is also hypocritical nonsense. If Michael Moore genuinely supported young people's democratic rights, he would take any opportunity to advance them - not just when he thinks it suits him.

"The SNP has long supported the principle of votes at 16 and where it has the power to do so - such as for elections to health boards and the Crofting Commission - the Scottish government has already ensured that they have that right. The other parties should listen to organisations such as Young Scot and let Scotland's young citizens have their say on Scotland's future."

SNP Welcome International Media Iinterest Sparked By Autumn 2014 Announcement

Alex Salmond’s announcement that the referendum on independence will be held in autumn 2014 has sparked an unprecedented level of international interest from the world’s media on Scotland.

Scotland and the SNP are no strangers to media interest; from the historic victory at the 2007 Scottish elections to last year’s landslide result when the Scottish people delivered a resounding SNP majority at the Scottish Parliament. However, the referendum date announcement has scaled new previously unknown levels of worldwide coverage.

The BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson described the First Minister - who is currently in the Middle East signing a ground-breaking deal on renewables - as "the canniest political operator in these isles". This sentiment wasn’t confined to London alone as international enquiries kept the phones ringing red hot at the SNP’s Central Office.

Digital media has seen a spike too, with Facebook pages packed with the stories about the SNP being ahead of the David Cameron’s anti-independence gang’s game, and Twitter timelines filled with trending topics including #Indyref, #ItsStarted, #SNP, #Salmond and #Scotland.

Humza Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow, said:

“It has been a phenomenal start to 2012; David Cameron and his Lib Dem and Labour anti-independence pack look lost, while Alex Salmond and the SNP continue to keep moving Scotland forward and the level of interest from the media in England, Ireland, across Europe and beyond has been remarkable.

“I personally have done interviews and spoke with journalists working for media organisation from Australia, Catalonia, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

“It is really encouraging for the drive towards independence to have this level of interest focused on Scotland, as is the level of warmth and support my colleagues and I have received from new friends from overseas.

“People recognise Scotland as an ambitious, outward looking and progressive nation. Now, far beyond these shores, it is understood that our noble desire for self-determination is within the grasp of the people of Scotland.”

Notes From Around The World:

NY TIMES, USA

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/world/europe/scottish-independence-movement-draws-renewed-sparring.html?_r=1 “The political alignment in Scotland in the wake of the outright victory in last year’s election by the Scottish National Party, a group that has campaigned for independence since the 1930s, has created an unmatched opportunity to press the case for an end to the union”.

HUFFINGTON POST, USA http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/10/scottish-independence-illegal-david-cameron-law-change-section-30-order_n_1196635.html “Scottish National Party MPs at Westminster are clearly delighted at the latest impasse, believing it is causing a surge in new members joining the SNP in Scotland.”

LE MONDE, FRANCE (via lexis nexis) “The very Scottish independence leader will indeed have enough time to convince the population of interest and the credibility of its economic cause.”

CTV NEWS, CANADA http://m.ctv.ca/topstories/20110515/parti-quebecois-referendum-ideas-110515.html “Key suggestions for Scotland's nationalists: be careful with the timing and keep an eye out for rule-bending rivals.”

IRISH TIMES, IRELAND http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0111/1224310098506.html “There is no political figure among his opponents to compare with Salmond’s stature.”

EL PAIS, SPAIN http://www.elpais.com/articulo/opinion/Partida/escocesa/elpepiopi/20120111elpepiopi_2/Tes “British Prime Minister, Conservative David Cameron is trying cut the grass under their feet the wily chief minister Scottish Nationalist Alex Salmond… who now has an absolute majority and a mandate.”

PERSOVERZICHT, POLAND “The Scottish Premier Cameron's ultimatum yesterday waved away as unwanted interference.”

VILAWEB, CATALONIA http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3969837/20120111/escocia-posa-rumb-independencia.html “Salmond made a tough speech against Prime Minister Cameron, whom he accused of eating in Scottish affairs.”

PRAVDA, RUSSIA http://www.pravda.ru/world/europe/european/11-01-2012/1104289-scotland-0/ “The right to independent existence of the Scots deserve more than any other separatist region of Europe.”

SYDNEY MH, AUSTRALIA http://www.smh.com.au/world/camerons-handling-of-scottish-referendum-triggers-backlash-20120110-1pth9.html Headline: “Cameron's handling of Scottish referendum triggers backlash.”

NZ HERALD, NEW ZEALAND http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10777975&_ft_qid=5696153544275220203&_ft_mf_story_key=10150491712763049&_ft_filter=live&_ft_substories=3&_ft_fbid=354347101257990%2C153114234798807%2C163214163781138&_ft_c=m Headline: “Independence beckons for Scotland”

FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU, GERMANY http://www.fr-online.de/politik/schotten-sollen-2014-ueber-unabhaengigkeit-abstimmen,1472596,11418380.html “The Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond rejected it (London’s offer) on the BBC. Scotland would not allow itself to be dictated by the conditions of London.”

AFTENPOTEN, NORWAY http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/Cameron-vil-ha-folkeavstemning-om-skotsk-uavhengighet-6737619.html “The Scottish National Party SNP, led by Alex Salmond, will have a referendum on whether Scotland should secede from the rest of the UK.”

ABC, SPAIN http://www.abc.es/20120111/internacional/abci-crisis-constitucional-escocia-201201111247.html “Covered in this electoral legitimacy, Salmond has accused the British political class "afraid" of the result of a referendum, and has used skillfully to tarnish the mantle Cameron with the memory of Margaret Thatcher's intransigence at the first steps toward Scottish autonomy given by the Labour governments that preceded it.”

ABC, AUSTRALIA http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-11/scotlands-leader-tells-cameron-to-stay-out-of/3767090 “The support for Independence is creeping up”