SCOTTISH YOUNG GREENS LAUNCH MANIFESTO AT BIGGEST EVER AGM
The Scottish Young Greens, the youth wing of the Scottish Green Party, will today (11 April) hold its biggest ever Annual General Meeting at which it will launch a youth manifesto for the General Election.
The Scottish Young Greens, aged 16 to 30, now number over 3,000 - bigger than the entire party membership before the independence referendum.
The "Green Surge" means the party is now almost 9,000 strong, and at this election it will field 31 candidates - a majority of Scotland's seats. Polling shows almost of a quarter of 18 to 34 year olds intend to vote for the Scottish Greens, with the Greens in 2nd place among students.
Along with key Scottish Green pledges such as a £10 minimum wage by 2020, publicly-owned railways and more powers for Scotland and local communities, the Scottish Young Greens are pledging:
-Opposition to any moves to reduce benefits available to young people under the age of 25.
-Removal of the punishing benefit sanctions regime.
-Abolition of the Bedroom Tax and Workfare.
-Halt the roll-out of Universal Credit to allow the Scottish Parliament to design a scheme that works with the new devolved social security powers.
Zara Kitson (29), Scottish Green MP candidate for Glasgow North-east, said:
"This is our biggest ever AGM and we're excited to launch a Scottish Green manifesto tailored for younger voters. 2015 could be the year that sparks a political transformation across the UK, and Young Greens are determined to play a part in that.
"Young people are tired of the same old business-as-usual politics. We are ready for change. This election is about voting for what you believe in."