Robert Riddell

Stirling

Key Issues

Rights
Education
Health and wellbeing

Candidate Presentation

Candidate Profile

Why do you want to be an MSYP?

I want to improve the lives of young people across Scotland. In particular, I want to improve young people’s experiences at school because these experiences can shape a future. Scotland is seeing more and more young people reporting hardships at school, and while this isn’t our fault, we, as the youth of Scotland, can use SYP to protect education. That’s why I want to represent Stirling, because as I’m writing this, there are over 200 pupils currently excluded from school, 83,600 pupils chronically absent from school, and roughly 300,000 young people who have a difficult relationship with education. It’s the most vital thing in a person’s life, I want to protect it.

How will you consult with the young people in your area or organisation to ensure that they are represented well and their voices are heard?

If you vote for me, I will be an extension of you. I will make your solutions my manefestos and your concerns my speeches. I will designate online platforms for privately submitting ideas, set up tags for people to share their experiences across our city on social media, and establish relationships with youth groups and schools across the city to support in understanding how to improve the experiences of young people. I promise that if you’re brave enough to speak to me, I’ll be more than willing enough to listen.

Why should someone vote for you?

I am campaigning for autonomy. I want to ensure that all policies that are made for young people are made with us. My goal is for young people across Stirling to feel they have the ability to share their ideas for improving Scotland, and beyond this, having the ability and resources to fulfil them. This isn’t always true for young people, and it needs to be.
If elected, I will campaign for free tutoring programs to help any student in academic progress.
I will change how lessons in schools are taught, replacing “lesson skeletons” with more conversational environments.
I will ensure all young people have the ability to seek help if they feel their mental well-being is at risk, without experiencing long waiting lists.
If this is the future you want for Scotland, then vote for me. If you vote for me, then this will be the future.