New MSYPs elected to represent East Ayrshire Council constituencies
Over 3000 young people from all over East Ayrshire have voted to elect their local Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) in the 2019 Scottish Youth Parliament national elections held during the last two weeks of March.
Aimee Purdie and Liam Fowley were elected as MSYPs for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley; and Liam Armstrong was elected for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.
The election followed almost three months of campaigning from young candidates across Scotland, after which young people aged 12-25 were asked to cast their vote to elect their local MSYP by submitting a paper ballot at all secondary schools within the local authority.
The Scottish Youth Parliament is the democratically elected voice of Scotland's young people. It provides a national platform for young people to discuss issues important to them and affect the change they wish to see.
Speaking after the 2019 SYP election results, Kevin Wells, Service Manager, Early Intervention and Prevention, said: “I would like to thank all the candidates for the hard work involved in their campaigning and let them know that there are still many opportunities to be part of the Youth Voice in East Ayrshire. On occasion there may also be an opportunity to attend the National Sittings as a guest.
“Over the past few months, we have witnessed fantastic campaigning taking place all over the authority, with passionate debates and hustings inspiring East Ayrshire’s young people to get involved in the democratic process by voting in their local Scottish Youth Parliament elections. I’d like to congratulate all of the candidates, and wish the best of luck to the newly elected MSYPs.”
ENDS
Photo caption: Aimee Purdie, MSYP, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley; Liam Armstrong, MSYP, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley and Liam Fowley, MSYP, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.
Notes to editors
- All media enquiries directed to Heather McCormick, Community Worker, email heather.mccormick@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 01563 576354.
- The Scottish Youth Parliament is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. Their vision for Scotland is of a nation that actively listens to and values the meaningful participation of its children and young people. SYP is grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 12, which lays out young people’s right to be listened to on the issues that affect them, and for their views to be given weight.