Jennifer Lumsden

Strathkelvin and Bearsden

Key Issues

• Equalities
• Rights
• Health and wellbeing

Candidate Profile

Why do you want to be an MSYP?

I have always had a passion for politics. To be able to stand up, be brave, and fight for what's right is something I value deeply. During the time I visited the Scottish Parliament, I knew I wanted to be at those desks, debating for a honourable cause. As a neurodiverse young person, at primary school, I often felt ignored by my peers. I felt like I was fundamentally wrong. As time went on my confidence grew, and I look back and think if somebody had listened to me back then, heard what i had to say and valued it, maybe I wouldn't have felt so alone. I now strive to be the voice I needed back then. It would be an honour to be able to speak for those who feel like they can't, and make all my constituents feel seen.

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?

I will make many efforts to consult young people in my local area.

One way I will do this is by using various forms of social media to consult young people, as most young people use these websites and apps regularly. This will ensure that my constituents can hear my voice, and I can hear theirs.

Another way I will do this is by communicating with members of local youth groups. I attend multiple youth groups with people from various schools around the area: Lenzie, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch etc. This will allow me to communicate with a wide range of local residents.

All these efforts will be done so young people can feel free to talk to me about local issues affecting them.

Why should someone vote for you?

People should vote for me because I value communication. I am confident at putting ideas across and passionately arguing for what is right. I think that the most important aspect of communication is listening. Listening to young people to understand their ideas, listening to opposing views to find compromises, and especially listening very carefully to those whose voices are rarely heard.

As a neurodiverse young person, I often felt alone as the issues I was facing were not the ones that are easily understood by my peers. Through secondary school, my confidence grew and I found more people who thought like me and that connection was, and still is, invaluable. As an MSYP, I would work relentlessly to give a voice to those who currently don't feel like they have one.

Equality is something that I value very highly. Whilst equality is written into law, is isn't always enforced and is treated like a suggestion by many. As a MSYP, I would work to ensure that equality is deeds and not just words.

I would like to be an MSYP because I have the skills, the passion, and the drive to make a real difference.