Young Scots for Independence

Young Scots for Independence (YSI) is the youth wing of the Scottish National Party (SNP). It is not to be confused with Federation of Student Nationalists, which is for those in higher education, and whose membership is not restricted by age, unlike the YSI.

The YSI is autonomous from the SNP and as such is entitled to formulate its own policies and devise its own campaigns. The YSI is represented on the SNP National Executive Committee and can send delegates to meetings of the SNP Annual National Conference.

Objectives

Its objectives are:

# independence for Scotland;
# the furtherance of all Scottish interests;
# to increase support for the aims and policies of the SNP amongst the youth of Scotland
# to provide a political and social forum for the youth of Scotland;
# to further the interests of the youth of Scotland.

History

Formed in the 1970s as the Young Scottish Nationalists many YSI activists have since risen to prominence in the SNP, including former party leader John Swinney and MSPs Fiona Hyslop and Nicola Sturgeon.

The YSI changed its name to the one it has presently, from the Young Scottish Nationalists in the 1990s. Those aged 26 or younger and who subscribe to the organisation's objectives are eligible for membership.

It has informal links with Cymru X, the youth wing of Plaid Cymru.

Text Referendum

On 8 April 2006, the YSI launched a "text referendum" at the SNP Conference in Dundee, which asks people to vote via text message "Scot yes" or Scot no" on the question "should Scotland be independent?" to 60999.

A text referendum on nuclear weapons has been launched, which asks people to vote on whether they believe the Westminster Government should spend £25 Billion on a new generation of Nuclear missiles to be stored on the River Clyde - 30 miles from Glasgow. The answer "Nuke Yes" or "Nuke No" should be texted to 60999.

A further text referendum on whether Scotland should have a public holiday on St Andrew's Day has been started, with the public being asked to text "holiday yes" or "holiday no" to the same number as before.

National Executive of the YSI

*National Convenor - Cllr Alison Thewliss (Glasgow YSI)
*Senior Vice Convenor - Stewart McDonald (Glasgow YSI)
*National Secretary - Alan Masterton (Lewis and Harris YSI)
*National Treasurer - Scott Telfer (Tayside YSI)
*VC Organisation - David Linden (Glasgow YSI)
*VC Publicity - Ross Ingebrigtsen (Lothians YSI)
*Membership Secretary - Paul Togneri (Lothians YSI)
*Under 18's Rep - Alex MacLeod (Highland YSI)
*Ordinary Executive Member 1 - Cllr David McDonald (Glasgow YSI)
*Ordinary Executive Member 2 - Jenny Gilruth (Glasgow YSI)
*Ordinary Executive Member 3 - Robbie Landsman (Forth Valley YSI)
*YSI Rep to the SNP NEC - Marco Biagi (Glasgow YSI)
*Honourary President - Aileen Campbell MSP, South of Scotland
*Honourary Vice President - Gareth Finn

YSI Branches

The YSI is split up into branches where there is a concentration of active members in a geographical area. Individual members who are not part of branches can, and do, become involved though participating on a more national scale.

The current branches are:

*Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
*Forth Valley
*Glasgow
*Lewis and Harris
*Highlands (including Moray)
*Lothians
*Young Asian Scots for Independence

The YSI are currently in the process of forming branches in the Lanarkshire & Tayside areas of Scotland

ee also

*Young Scot

External links

* [http://www.snpyouth.org YSI website]
* [http://www.txt4scotland.com Text Referendum website]
* [http://bellgrovebelle.blogspot.com Alison Thewliss's Blog]
* [http://adamsmithwasasocialist.blogspot.com Marco Biagi's Blog]
* [http://www.stewartmcdonald.blogspot.com Stewart McDonald's blog]