Press Release
Emily nominated for top young politician award
Emily Shaw and Keenan Alexander at the October sitting of the Scottish Youth Parliament
Shetland’s Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP), Emily Shaw, has been nominated for The Scottish Variety Awards Best Up and Coming Scottish Politician of the Year 2012, alongside four other MSYPs from throughout Scotland. Elected as MSYP for Shetland in March 2011, Emily has represented the isles’ young folk at a local and national level.
She continues to represent the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) and the young people of Scotland on the Commission for Rural Education. The Commission, chaired by Sheriff David Sutherland, is tasked with examining both how the delivery of rural education can maximise the attainment and life chances of young people in rural areas, and the link between rural education and rural communities.
Mike Russell, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said:
"I was pleased to nominate Emily Shaw to the joint Scottish Government and CoSLA Commission on Rural Education based on her sound representation of Shetland within the Scottish Youth Parliament.
“She is an exceptional representative of young people, of rural Scotland and, most recently, she has proven to be a strong voice on the Commission. Her contribution is all the more impressive given her personal investment in her membership and I have no doubt that she should look forward to a successful political future."
Anyone can vote for Emily via http://www.clyde1.com/sva
Emily Shaw said:
"I am honoured to be nominated for Best Up and Coming Scottish Politician of the Year 2012. The Scottish Youth Parliament is a brilliant organisation and to be nominated for doing work which I enjoy so much is fantastic.
“After such a short time in the SYP, I have been privileged enough to have been offered many opportunities and would like to thank Shetland Islands Council, particularly my support worker Martin Summers and our sponsors Tesco Lerwickand Flybe for their continued support."
MSYPs are elected by young people in their local area or a national organisation in which they are involved. MSYPs are democratically elected by young people to represent them and ensure their voice is listened to by local and national decision-makers. The three main ways in which MSYPs do this are:
- Consulting with young people in their local area or organisation
- Campaigning on issues which affect young people
- Representing young people’s views to individuals and organisations who make decisions which affect the lives of young people