Scottish Young Greens

The Scottish Young Greens are the youth wing of the Scottish Green Party

Scottish Young Greens
AbbreviationSYG
PredecessorYoung Greens
Formation2003
TypeYouth wing
Headquarters17b Graham Street
Edinburgh
EH6 5QN
Region
Scotland
Co-Convenors
Chris McFadyen
AffiliationsFederation of Young European Greens
Websitewww.younggreens.scot

SYG campaign on green politics and youth politics.[1] Membership of the Scottish Young Greens is open to anyone aged 16 to 30 years old, so long as they are not members of a rival political party. The Scottish Young Greens work closely with the Young Greens of England and Wales and are members of the Federation of Young European Greens.[2]

History

The Scottish Young Greens formally, and amicably, split from the Young Greens of England and Wales in 2003, more than ten years after the Scottish Green Party and the Green Party of England and Wales had similarly split. The two work closely together but remain independent organisations.

The Scottish Young Greens have variously campaigned for the Scottish and UK Climate Bills, Fairtrade Universities, Votes at 16, a Free, Fair and Funded Education System,[3] and against HMO Quotas. In 2007, they revealed that the University of Edinburgh invested substantially in TOTAL Oil, the biggest financial supporters of the Burmese Junta.[4] Scottish Young Greens were also central to the preparations for the protests at the 2005 G8 Summit in Scotland.

Following the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, a significant increase in the membership of the Scottish Green Party resulted in an influx of many new Young Greens. The Scottish Young Greens currently have local branches covering Glasgow & the West of Scotland, Edinburgh and Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, as well as societies in a number of Scottish universities.[5]

In 2015, they launched their own manifesto ahead of the 2015 general election, including calls for the removal of benefit sanctions and the abolition of the so-called Bedroom tax.[6]

A number of Scottish Young Greens have been elected to public office. Ross Greer became the youngest MSP ever elected to the Scottish Parliament in the 2016 elections, representing the West Scotland region.[7] In the 2017 local elections, 16% of Scottish Green Party candidates were Young Greens.[8] Three were elected as councillors, out of a total of 19 Green councillors across Scotland, all to Glasgow City Council - Kim Long, Christy Mearns, and Allan Young.

Notable members

Scottish Young Greens have had a certain amount of success in student politics. Former Rector of the University of Edinburgh Peter McColl was Convener of the Young Greens between 2008 and 2010, and recent former Presidents/Vice Presidents of Edinburgh University Students' Association, Students Association of the University of the West of Scotland, Aberdeen University Student's Association, Stirling University's Student Union and Glasgow University Students' Representative Council have been Young Greens.

The 2004-2005 Deputy President of NUS Scotland, Phyl Meyer, was also a Young Green, as was 2011–2013 NUS Scotland President Robin Parker.

Young Greens led the successful election campaign of Mark Ballard as Rector of Edinburgh University.

Scottish Young Greens James Smyth and Ross Greer have been Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (2011–2013).

The current Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Jack Dudgeon, is a member of SYG.

References
  1. About SYG. Scottish Young Greens (official website). Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  2. "About SYG". greens.scot. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. "Edinburgh University Rector speaks in favour of free higher education". The Journal (Edinburgh Student Newspaper). 26 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  4. "Students criticise Burma oil link". BBC News. 7 November 2007.
  5. "Local Groups". greens.scot. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  6. "Parties focus on families and health service in election campaigning". STV News. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  7. "Greens' Ross Greer becomes youngest MSP". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  8. "Record Number of Young Greens on the Ballot". greens.scot. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
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