Delighted to share a video, starring and designed, by myself and other MSYP’s from across Forth Valley to encourage young people to vote.
You can register if you’re over 14 and it only takes 5 minutes. Registering allows you to have your voice heard!
https://t.co/PC19PSNBQv
When young people raise concerns about sexual harassment and are dismissed as ‘mischievous’ to the media, something is fundamentally broken at the top of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
This cannot continue, the Charity Regulator, OSCR should step in and investigate.
15 Scottish Youth Parliament members have demanded Jamie Dunlop's resignation, calling his position “untenable” amid whistleblower allegations and ongoing fallout from the Jordan Linden scandal 👇
This article is a harrowing read.
The CEO of SYP's position is now untenable.
If he does not have the courage to resign, the Board must step in and remove him.
If we have any hope of surviving, the Linden-era cosy consensus at the top of our organisation must end.
EXCLUSIVE
A former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has accused the organisation of failing to take allegations of sexual harassment seriously and claimed they were never interviewed as part of an independent review.
The whistleblower, a former Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) who previously spoke to The Herald following their resignation last year, said the handling of their complaint reflected a wider 'pattern of behaviour', referencing Jordan Linden.
Linden, a former chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, was found guilty last month of sexually assaulting young men and sending unwanted sexual communications to teenagers over a number of years.
The whistleblower has now called for all Scottish Government funding to the SYP to be paused until a public inquiry into the organisation has taken place 👇
𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭
John Swinney was alerted to safeguarding concerns relating to the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) following exclusive reporting by The Herald but failed to take action, emails released under freedom of information laws show.
The correspondence reveals that Scottish Government officials sought to escalate the matter internally, proposing that the First Minister’s Questions (FMQ) unit be made aware of the story and asked whether a briefing was required.
The approach explicitly referenced The Herald’s reporting, which had raised concerns about the SYP’s processes and included calls for an investigation.
It comes after a teenager told The Herald last year they faced 'a catalogue of threats, sexual harassment, and cover-ups' during their time as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP).
They claimed a local authority worker repeatedly asked inappropriate questions about their sexuality and sexual history between November 2023 and June 2024, when they were aged 17.
The former MSYP also alleged that a 'close-up' photograph of them was taken on the official's personal device, under the pretext of 'remembering faces', when they were only 16 👇
Connor and I agreed on virtually nothing in our time in the Scottish and UK Youth Parliaments.
Despite this, we still worked well together for the benefit of the young people who elected us.
The Scottish Youth Parliament’s fate as a crumbling institution was entirely avoidable.
@LloydAMelville Scotland has had varying tax and spending powers for 26 years.
The SNP already has the ability to invest in our communities and build a better future - this doesn’t require Independence.
Matthew’s resignation is a devastating loss to SYP. He has been an outstanding colleague, a credit to his constituents and a huge personal support to me.
Here, SYP has utterly failed. We cannot hide from that shame and we must undergo change to safeguard young people in politics
Honoured to have been elected today in Paisley as Convenor of @OfficialSYP’s Health, Wellbeing & Sport Committee.
I look forward to working with my committee to champion young people’s voices on these essential issues!
The proposed closure of Forth Valley College’s Alloa campus would be devastating for young people in Clacks on so many levels. This is what happens when the Scottish Government brutally cuts funding in real terms.
Clackmannanshire’s young people deserve better!
🎉Happy International Youth Day!🎉
Young people of central Scotland, did you know you can register to vote from 14 and vote in some elections from 16? Register here so your voice can be heard: https://t.co/0lhZH075D8.
Delighted to share my column for the Alloa Advertiser this month.
I’ve outlined why the UK Government’s bold move to enfranchise 16 and 17 year olds in national elections will strengthen our democracy and society.
https://t.co/srzZPD3eot
It was great to meet @BenMSYP in Westminster yesterday and hear about the brilliant work the Scottish Youth Parliament does. Ben is a fantastic representative and champion for Clackmannanshire! 👏
It was great to meet with local MP’s @BrianLeishmanMP and @GraemeDownieMP in London at our Votes at 16 campaign drop in. I’m grateful for their time, support, and commitment to youth voice within Clackmannanshire and their advocacy for vulnerable groups in the constituency.
Young people across Britain deserve the right to vote at 16. If they can pay taxes, have kids and fight in the army, they should absolutely have the right to have a say in who runs their country.
(3/3)
It has been an absolute pleasure over the last few days to be in London with @OfficialSYP campaigning on the vital issue of Votes at 16 for all young people in Britain.
Tuesday consisted of workshop with youth organisations from across Britain. And on Wednesday…
(1/3)
I was in the House of Commons, speaking to MP’s, ministers, experts and more as well as attending the launch of a Votes at 16 strategy
ahead of the anticipated government bill/white paper.
Some well earned free time was spent touring across all of Londons lovely sights!
(2/3)