Liberal Youth Scotland have launched their own campaign, Separate Isn’t Equal – urging MSPs to support equal marriage.

Liberal Youth Scotland President Sophie Bridger said, “We welcome the consultation on equal marriage. Having two separate institutions for different sexualities is nothing less than segregation. There is no excuse not to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples – and to open up civil partnerships to mixed-sex couples.”

Nathan Sparling, from NUS Scotland LGBT said: “The ‘Separate Isn’t Equal’ campaign from Liberal Youth Scotland shows a there is a real commitment coming from a wide range of the Scottish community on Marriage Equality. It’s with campaigns like this that we’ll be able to persuade politicians that this is an important issue in delivering true equality in this country.”

You can support Liberal Youth Scotland’s ‘Separate Isn’t Equal’ campaign by emailing your MSP, and asking them to support equal marriage rights: www.lyscotland.org/campaigns/equality

Please also take the time to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/05153328

Vice President Communications Ross Stalker commented:

“Section 28 was a direct attack on the mental health of our LGBT community. It is outrageous that the most prominent financial backer of the policy should be honoured. Liberal Youth have always been committed to eliminating homophobia, and whilst our Homophobia is Gay campaign has been successful in reversing some of Section 28′s effects by making schools face up to homophobic bullying, there is still much work to be done.”

“Brian Souter still promotes the results of his methodologically flawed ‘referendum’ on Section 28 via his website.”

“Besides, I am not sure that Brian Souter’s use of anti-competitive practices to drive local operators out of business should earn him any sort of award for ‘service to transport’, let alone a knighthood.”

Vice President Communications Ross Stalker said:

“Although the SNP claim that this policy gives parity with English universities, in actuality, the four year length of a Scottish degree makes the total cost higher. When the Liberal Democrats were in Government in Scotland, the annual fee cap was set below that of English universities for this very reason.”

“It is true that some – not all – English students can choose to enter directly into the second year of their degree, but they should not feel it necessary to do so for cost reasons.”

“We call on the Scottish Government to ensure that the overall cost of attending university in Scotland remains competitive with that of England.”

Vice President Campaigns Robbie Simpson said:

“This move would make Scottish universities the most expensive in Europe. That will do nothing to attract the brightest students at a time when applications from England have fallen 15% in the past year.”

“Meanwhile, there is no mention of student support – yet Scotland has lower bursaries and higher drop-out rates than the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government cannot simply use Rest of UK students to cover up their own lack of investment in Scotland’s universities and Scotland’s students.”

“The SNP needs to reconsider the extent of their proposals, and actually take heed of their consultation. They can’t play politics with Scotland’s educational future.”

VP Campaigns of Liberal Youth Scotland Robbie Simpson said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Elspeth has agreed to become one of our honorary Vice Presidents. Elspeth has a wealth of experience in the Liberal Democrats, both as a campaigner and as a parliamentarian in Europe. She’s been a long-time supporter of Liberal Youth Scotland and its predecessors and this result shows how highly she is regarded.”

VP Communications of Liberal Youth Scotland Ross Stalker said:

“Alex is a consummate campaigner, whose boundless energy manages to instill fervent optimism and fighting spirit in fellow liberals. I’m very pleased that he has agreed to lend some of this energy to Liberal Youth Scotland. As a former students’ union president, youth and student activism is in his political DNA, and he has always shown exceptional encouragement of and respect for the role of this activism within the party.”

President of Liberal Youth Scotland Sophie Bridger said: “I’m delighted that Alistair has agreed to be our Honorary President. He’s well liked among the membership, not just for the support he has shown LYS, but for the warmth and encouragement he has shown individual members.”

The following Executive vacancies were also filled in the same vote:

Ross Stalker as Vice President Communications. This result created a second OEM vacancy. The two OEM vacancies were filled by Alex White and David Evans.

Andrew Reeves
1968-2011

Yesterday, Liberal Democrats received the terrible news that Andrew Reeves, Director of Campaigns for the party in Scotland, had passed away, aged just 43.

Andrew gave so much to Liberal Youth Scotland, and to some of us individually. He was so dedicated to the cause of Liberalism, and really believed as much as anyone that LYS is the future of that cause. He nurtured us in our early days, and pushed us right up until the end. He was never afraid to put the boot in to motivate us.

LYS exec members past and present have been lining up to pay tribute to Andrew.

2010-2011 President Kristian Chapman: “can’t believe that such a good person has been taken from this world. I’ll miss you”

2009 President Tom Maidwell: “Although I haven’t spoken to you in over a year I know you were a good man with a big heart and you devoted your life and energy to the Liberal Democrats. We wouldn’t have been able to set up Liberal Youth Scotland without you. The party is worse off without you.”

2011-2012 OEM James Harrison: “Shed a few tears today after hearing of the death of Andrew Reeves. He was a lovely man who was always willing to help out, and gave me so much advice over the years. We also loved having an occasional private bitching session over Twitter Direct Messaging! We will all miss you man and we won’t forget you.”

You can find my own personal tribute here.

It says much about Andrew’s profound impact on the world around him that he was one of the most talked about things on Twitter in the UK yesterday. He has left a huge gap in the lives of so many, and the party he loved so much.

This is the last duty I will carry out as Vice-President of Liberal Youth Scotland. I could think of  more fitting way to end my time as Vice-President, than by honouring the memory of the man who on announcing my victory in 2009 said “but that’s no surprise.”

I’ll leave the final word to out incoming Honorary President, Alistair Carmichael MP: “I am not looking forward to my next visit to 4 Clifton Terrace where there will be a large Andrew Reeves – shaped hole. There are many people in the party who work hard, many who are fun to be around and many who have an instinctive feel for the liberal response to any given issue. He was one of the rare few who was all three and more.”

Callum Leslie
Vice-President (Communications) 2009-2011

I hope you’re well and getting excited for the up and coming campaigns for May 5th – Both the Lib Dem campaigns all over Scotland and the AV referendum. I am writing this to announce the results of the LYS Exec Elections 2011 – 2012.

President: Sophie Bridger

VP Campaigns: Robbie Simpson

VP Communications: Vacant

Treasurer: Vacant

(Ruaraidh Dobson has agreed to be our acting Treasurer)

Membership Secretary: Kavya Kaushik

Ordinary Executive Members:

Euan Davidson

James Harrison

Alex Paul

Ross Stalker

1 OEM Position Vacant

There is a transition period until May the 7th for the roles of President, VP Campaigns and Treasurer. All OEM roles and Membership Secretary take immediate effect. After May the 7th co-options of the vacant positions will go out along with nominations for the Honorary Vice President and 2x Vice Presidents Positions.

Thank you everyone who voted

Liberal Youth Scotland

It has been a great privilege to have led Liberal Youth Scotland for the last year and a half from when I was first co-opted into the position in January 2010 and then elected formally in March 2010.  During the last administration we have seen Liberal Youth Scotland build upon its success, passing the Equal Marriage Rights motion at Spring Conference 2010, seeing an increase of the membership after the Coalition Government was formed, have held the federal party to account when needed and are working closely with the Scottish Party to ensure that we tackle Scotland’s lost generation of skills and talents.

Any member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats under 27, or are 27-29 and have paid the requested fee to the party, is eligible to stand and vote in these elections, unless you have served more two terms as President, in which case you may not stand for either President or either of the Vice-President positions.

Click on the links below for more information

LYS positions for AGM 2011

LYS 2011 Election Rules

LYS Nomination form

To nominate yourself for one of the positions, please email our returning officer Returning Officer Elaine Bagshaw,  esbagshaw@googlemail.com,  with the nomination paper which is attached, stating your name, membership number and the position you wish to stand for, as well as a manifesto on one side of A4, which will be distributed to the electorate. This should be submitted in the form of a word, PDF or JPEG image file.  The closing date for nominations is 8pm Friday 18th March.  All nominations MUST be received by this date, any received after this time will not be considered.

This is the crucial time for us, and the party. I look forward to seeing you all on the 26th March in Perth.

Best of luck to all of the candidates.

Kristian Chapman

President

Liberal Youth Scotland

His green paper provides a number of options for Higher Education funding, but with no costings or models, and no proposed measures to ensure all young people can have the opportunity to go on to Higher Education.

Liberal Youth Scotland President Kristian Chapman said: “Michael Russell’s statement provides no relief for students and prospective students who are worried about what his Government are going to do to Higher Education.

“The only concrete announcement we’ve had from this SNP Government is that they are cutting 12% from University funding, but with no answers on how this will be replaced.

“NUS research has shown that a huge number of students have thought of dropping out because of a lack of student support, and again, we still have no answers from the SNP on how they will address this.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson Jeremy Purvis said: “We will work together across parties to deliver the right way forward for universities and students. But we also need to address the issue that should give us all pause for thought.

“That is that even with free university places, only one in five young people from the most deprived backgrounds go on to study a higher education qualification, compared to four out of five from the most affluent backgrounds.”

Ends.

President of Liberal Youth Scotland Kristian Chapman commented:
“Whilst Universities and Colleges are a devolved matter to the Scottish Government, we are very aware of the consequences this will now have here, potentially creating a funding gap in Higher and Further Education between England and Scotland institutions.

“Liberal Youth Scotland are proud that there are no tuition fees in Scotland thanks to Scottish Liberal Democrats in Government.

“We will continue to campaign alongside Liberal Democrat MSPs too ensure this maintained in Scotland after the 2011 election.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith MSP commenting in response to a letter from the President of NUS Scotland Liam Burns to Tavish Scott:

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are focused on Scotland and a Scottish solution for Higher Education and Scotland’s students.”

Margaret Smith spoke at a rally held by the National Union of Students on Thursday