Erin Higgins
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Moray
Why do you want to be an MSYP?
I want to be an MSYP because your family’s income shouldn’t decide whether you can take part in opportunities at school or in your community. Young people notice the cost of things. It might be school trips, lunch, transport, sports equipment or just the cost of going out with friends. Sometimes people feel embarrassed talking about money, which means their experiences can be hidden. I want to help make sure these experiences are heard. I’m already involved in my school pupil council, and I’ve learned that listening is just as important as speaking. If elected, I want to take the issues young people raise with me and turn them into clear asks for decision-makers. I also want to challenge the idea that young people aren’t interested in politics. We care about decisions because we live with their consequences.
Why should someone vote for you?
You should vote for me because I am passionate, determined and confident speaking to adults in positions of power.But I also know that representing young people means sometimes speaking up for an opinion that isn’t the same as mine.If I’m elected, I won’t just ask for your views once and then disappear. I want consultation to be an ongoing part of how I work as an MSYP.I will take the role seriously, prepare properly for meetings and explain what I’m doing in language that makes sense. I’d also be honest when progress is slow or when decision-makers disagree with us.
Pick the top three issues you want to campaign on as an MSYP
Poverty and income inequality, Education, Justice
How will you consult the young people in your area or organisation to ensure they are represented well and their voices are heard?
My approach would be to go to young people instead of expecting them to come to me. I would visit schools, colleges and youth projects and work with existing groups to hold discussions about the issues young people care about. I would also have an anonymous online form that people could use at any time. Every few months, I would publish a simple “You said, I did” update showing the main issues young people had raised, what I had done about them and what happened. I would pay particular attention to who is missing from the conversation. If most of the responses I was getting came from one school or one group of young people, I would actively seek out different voices before deciding what I should prioritise.
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