Her enthusiasm and commitment are an inspiration. Well said Mhairi Black. The contrast with the majority of Westminster politicians is glaring. The status quo is not working, and driving a breakup of the UK.
Everyone saying she has no life experience should take a hard look at the prime minister and the many privileged Westminster boys. Her past is far more grounded in reality, and those who think otherwise are not.
Mhairi might not rate Parliament too highly, but she certainly gives them a good bashing, and from what I've seen, puts some of them in their place now and again. One of the very few politicians I find myself having a lot of respect for.
Should have asked if she'd prefer a Conservative Independent Scotland, or a Socialist UK. Just because Scotland would be independent, doesn't mean it'd be left wing.
Mhair is a diamond! And being where she is at the moment will help her polishing her skills. The future looks a little bit more hopeful with her in the picture.
Sorry, but at around five and half mins in, that was the Resolution Foundation who described the tax as progressive. I mistakenly said the Scottish TUC.
you position yourself as anti-war, yet when talking about tge Syrian conflict on this morning a couple of months back, why did you repeat a lie that has been pretty well debunked, in that Assad gassed his own people?
+Tom Tom For some reason the left decided to be less sceptical when it came to syria I suppose because the left wing media was the driving force as the platform running the propaganda and the right wing media was the counter. When it turned out that most of the sources for those guardian pro-war propaganda articles was a one man outfit monitoring twitter out of a one-bedroom flat in london likely funded/working for the british, for some reason the left ignored it. Maybe owen is a hypocrite and just goes along with it.
+Owen Jones i really hope the socialist bloc in SNP are successful because one of their councillors( aye one character with a power trip!)is terrorizing the poor in glasgow. See the recent forced closure of the Greater Maryhill Foodbank for details. thig-ar-la
People will stand on her shoulders in years and years to come. How great that will be. I don't think she knows how inspiring she is. How life changing she is to younger people, the world over. Nice change from some young people with famous faces, who are all "me me me". She's so humble and that will never change. Her parents did a grand job. Mhairi even tilted my stand on Scotland going it alone, a little anyway, haha
e could do with quite a few more Mhairi Black's in Westminster and in particular in the Labour party. I have no doubt that one day she will be leading an independent Scotland...
Hopefully when Scotland finally becomes independent from the rest of the UK, this woman should either be the deputy leader or the leader of Scotland. She's a breath of fresh air in the world of politics!
Why is the SNP getting such an easy ride for having a pro-EU anti-UK stance? If Mhairi's argument for independence (i.e. no more compromise with centre right politics) is to be taken at face value, then how does she justify having a pro-EU stance? Even more absurdly, the SNP are saying that a Brexit vote could trigger another Scottish Referendum - as they are not prepared to remain within a centre right nation that is not prepared to remain within a centre right institution. They are fervently arguing for compromise, just not within the UK. They are not anti-establishment, just anti-British.
As a young female about to start a degree in politics (from Manchester but will be studying at Glasgow), Mhairi is one of the few politicians I can honestly relate to. I'd like to think one day parliament will be filled with more MPs of her sort, without sounding too optimistic.
+Owen Jones interesting how you'll ignore my comment and respond to one written later meaning you skipped right pass it. What's the matter Owen? Don't you think that you should confront Labour sanctioned misogyny?
The young have been treated terribly in recent years, great to see folk like Mhairi representing them but we need more! If you're young and in Scotland join the SNP or whichever party you feel represents your views. Don't be afraid to come along to party meetings and make your voice heard, you'll be welcomed with open arms :-) It's your future - help build it.
I'm not young but I am pleased to see a younger generation take up the cudgels or run the gauntlet of politics, politicians and the press, in the struggle for common sense to prevail, and to prevail in a fair minded society. I have liked and respected both yourself and Mhairi Black since early video encounters and TV etc. - not because you were both so young [I know that you Owen, are a 30 something now] when you began, but because it was time for each of you to claim your part in your own future, and the futures of those, a large number, whom you both represent either in Parliament or by ideal. I have no advice for either of you except to keep on doing what each of you are doing; it is both a good thing and very necessary. Best wishes!
Politicians like Mhairi Black are worth their weight in gold whichever side you're on. She's passionate, honest and assertive, would make a great prime minister
Mhairi Black doesn’t really know what she’s talking about. There is NO way I am voting SNP if she is a future leader. Free tuition has meant fewer places for Scottish students. This is the reality. So many people go to University but they don’t end up being MPs on80k. Instead they compete in a race to the bottom.
Interesting to hear the dark side, as it were, of Parliament. The sexism etc. And, too, the bubble. The utter bubble of the privileged. I mean, the likes of Cameron and others, I think, lack empathy. Because they're privileged, spoiled and have lived in a perpetual bubble.
I'm English and as much as I would like Scotland to stay in the UK, they don't tend to be as stupid as English people to not remember the past history of Tories when they lie, as soon as they read a Tory propaganda headline. You don't see many Scottish people crying on Question Time because they believed the Tories, as they remember that Tories have harmed more British people and society than anything from the EU. They know that Tories don't have the interests of most people at heart. They know that UKIP is made up of extreme ex-Tories who are against EU as it's stopping them from abusing British people, and their main policy is to get rid of human rights from all British people. If we leave the EU then Scotland will want to be a separate nation in the EU more than ever, and then Tories will then turn England into a USA state like they have done before, and make everybody else in the world hate us for reasons only the few at the top benefit from. Despite Tories first getting us into the European market when they thought it would only be good for the upper classes and their corporate donors, as soon as there were EU directives good for most people such as allowing workers enough breaks and making companies label GM food, Tories made the rest of Europe hate us and also Ireland on the other side when they made no attempt at a peace plan, dubbing out voices of N Irish politicians in the media so we didn't know other opinions, putting us all in danger. Lots of people go on about Blair and Iraq, but they forget that it was the Tories who made us so involved with the USA that we couldn't have left for the 2nd war if we wanted. Boris Johnson tells us what to do with the EU, when he can't or pretends to not remember what his own party has done, because on same TV show everybody made a fuss with his Germany never used chemical weapons comments, nobody noticed he said there wasn't a vote on the 2nd war against Iraq, when more Tory MPs voted yes to it that other parties. Thatcher made us the only country that allowed the USA to use us as an airport to bomb Libya which killed Gaddafi's child and led to Lockerbie. Other countries wouldn't even give them airspace and made them fly around. That was in the cold war when Russia was an ally of Libya, USA was planning the Star Wars protective shield but we would have nothing. I remember a lying question dodging Tory being asked lots of times on the TV what protection we would have in Reagan's Star Wars while being their lap dogs, and he eventually said we wouldn't have anything. Then John Major made us the 2nd largest force in the 1st Iraq war, and we were the only other country going on bombing raids with the USA in the region up until 2nd war, so that we couldn't have left all our commitments there on the day before USA decided to go to war a 2nd time. It's happening again now. We're arming Saudi Arabia while saying less brutal nations like Syria under Assad need to be overthrown, supporting the USA sending arms to extremists groups against Assad so that Islamic State are driving around Syria in trucks the USA sent there.
+British Renaissance Britain can't have a nationalist party because Britain is not a nation, it's a collection of islands. If you meant England, then that's further proof of the divide between our nations.
+British Renaissance There is nothing to stop England having a nationlist party, but I thought that's what the Tories were, as they dont seem to do much good for N.Ireland, or Wales or the north of England either
Cool interview Owen :) I'm not a fan of the SNP but as a young woman interested in politics I have a lot of respect for Mhairi :) It would be cool to see you interviewing more young people in the future, keep up the good work xx
Labour can't win a general election alone, it needs to work with parties like SNP, lib dems and greens in order to keep the tory out of power in 2020. A more proportional voting system would help toward that goal and I wish labout would officially support electoral reform .
+Totalwarking7 It feels like the options for Scotland in 2020 will to be to either give in and help Labour form a majority for the good of UK or stick to SNP and run the risk of another Conservative government
How do you propose the SNP do that? It's up to labour to win enough seats in England, that's were you lost the election. Labour could've won every single seat in scotland and the Tories would still have had a majority. I can almost guarantee that if Labour reclaim enough English seats to were nobody gets a majority, the SNP would be willing to enter a coalition with them, although there would be a large number of conditions to such an arrangement
+DynamiteShovel1 The SNP are willing to work with Labour in 2020, in fact if Labour remain toward the left then Corbyn or, more likely, an other left leaning leader would have better friends in them than they would on their own backbenches. The only way the SNP can stop a Labour government is by spooking English voters by the prospect of a coalition with them, which in fairness to them is hardly the SNP's fault. Besides, they are going to have a large number of seats in Scotland even if they lose half of them, which is unlikely, so they will be a factor whether Labour like it or not. The best they can do is have a strong leader who has clear line on any deal from as early as possible. One option would be for Labour to say they will work with the SNP, but not give away any more powers to Scotland as part of any deal. They might not like it, but they do not have much of an option other than to work with the Tories.
+Zac Hallgaten Well, sadly the Conservatives won a majority. Now the flaws of first past the post and decades of gerrymandering by all sides are well documented, but ultimately the Tories won, and really quite a lot of people support them. Why is varied and nuanced. And it's probably a little selfish of Scotland to leave us with those scumbags, but I can't blame them for wanting to help themselves. I just hope it's not to cold when I emigrate there.
+mavis cruet Don't sweat it Mave , we burn effigies of Gideon and Co on a daily basis ( Wickerman style ) you can warm your soft southern hands on the flames. Don't breathe in the smoke though.
+mavis cruet I blame our system. 36% of a 66% turnout is somehow considered a majority. Forgive my maths, but isn't that something like 20% of the electorate? I think deep down I might just be jealous Scotland have a potential escape route from this abomination. Might start booking my ticket up there now...
Mark of the lady - has an earth shattering, massive event and her response is to think of those others that had worked all of their lives to create that event. She really is amazing - well done on the interview Owen :)
The SNP to me are a breath of fresh air, even when I don't agree with them. They are the only party who genuinly have the interests of the electorate at heart. How anyone can support Westminster which is constantly stamping on the head of the disabled and vulnerable whilst giving themselves pay rises is beyond me. Lets break free from the monster that is Westminster.
I don't understand why she's so pro EU when she gives an example of there always being compromise with 4 countries (surely a union with 28 countries is a lot worse, and much more dictatory!)
she's a Marxist, my dad's from cranhill, Glasgow, I love Scotland, and if Scotland left the UK and the EU fair play do it! but staying in the EU shows that these people are moronic idiots, the EU is undemocratic and economically raping the UK.
jay fams Well I guess they're all in for a shock if Britain leaves and Scotland votes for independence, becoming a EU member. One of the problems I foresee if this happens is floods of EU immigrants going to Scotland then illegally crossing the boarder to England. I think one of the reasons the peoples of Scotland are so pro EU is because things like open boarder immigration haven't affected them on nearly the same level as England.
***** actually regulation is not legislation, and the scope of regulatory overight is not the same as quantum. And the extent to which it affects national sovereignty is also not equivilant.
Going to be bizarre if and when Scotland gets another independence referendum; everyone will have to swap their "leaving a political union" arguments again. As others have said her arguments for leaving the UK can easily transfer to the EU especially on the issue of compromise. Still I've always liked her. She's someone I'd want in my corner.
I admire her passion but the SNP simply don't want independence. If they had a proper plan for Scotland, with their own government and their own currency - real independence, then the people would vote for it and an independent Scotland would be a success... but the SNP are simply not offering that.
+MightyDemocracy It's you again ! So, the UK leaves Europe (what's the plan there, I'd like to know ?) but Scotland should stay within the UK - why is that ?
Mark Somers Yep, I like to troll Owen Jones as much as possible.. politely of course... I would be happy for Scotland to become independent if that's what they want. I think it would be good for them. However, I think the UK has many things that the EU does not which allow it to work. Firstly, it has consent, whereas the EU does not and continuously ignores referendums that undermine it. Secondly, and most importantly, the 4 nations all share a common language, culture and values. This means that we can have a legitimate functioning democracy whereas a country with multiple languages cultures and religions must be ruled from the top down.
"When I was 20 I was just lounging around in my pants, hungover" - Absolute gold! Great interview once again Owen. I totally agree that we need to well and truly pop the so-called 'Westminster bubble', too many Hooray Henrys playing games with vulnerable people's lives.
pauline Bloggs 'Stay as sweet as you are, Don't let a thing ever change you Stay as sweet as you are, Don't let a soul re-arrange you, .....night & day I pray that you'll always stay as sweet as you are' From an old song: She must be powerful, too --- because she makes me cry --- I am so afraid for the Youth of this country, especially now! Couldn't Mhairi be cloned? Hee-hee 😈
Crucially from June 8th, Labour will become a force in Scotland again, now Scottish voters realise Labour actually are left-wing. Mhairi acknowledged this around 9:00 in, there's no compromise required in England any more. 42% of the English vote went to a totally left wing manifesto. I fully agree with the Scots who voted SNP, Labour weren't adequate to represent their views as a country generally, however Corbyn has rectified this, and I can't wait to welcome them back and give the Tories a kicking.
Mhairi is fantastic. There are always going to be folk who use prejudice to persuade and control, but Mhairi will rise above this archaic practice of right politics and lead the way for the many she represents. I feel represented by her politics and I hope she can continue to persuade using her reason and compassion for her constituents and wider politic objectives. Thank you, Owen, for providing a platform for the left.
Brilliant interview. Really inspiring to see Mhairi so committed to helping people have a better life and putting up with such crap from Westminster to achieve it. Thanks for the insights Owen.
She would be an absolute force on the Labour Party. I love her unapologetic stance on nationalisation and education. Labour became too anglocentric and left a lot of Scottish voters out to dry. They turned to the SNP who offered a viable leftist alternative.
That,s why Scottish Labour are now known as Red Tories up here, they became Blairites,moved to the right and distanced themselves from the Scottish electorate. I know,I was a Labour branch treasurer, I,m no Blairite, I left Labour, won't vote Labour ever again..
Please Owen, use an Audacity filter to take the underground noise off your vídeo. It is very simple, very quick and will improve de quality a lot. Particularly for me, because i am a Brazilian, used to hear american english and when i hear an english talkin with a scott you might imagine how difficult it is for me to understand with all that noise. It would be like you understand a person from angola talkin to a portuguese when you are used to hear brazilians.
Labour is way too compromised its a lost cause .Its first priority is to the Brit state . Most SNP voters are old school labour thinking btw dont listen to the overwhelming unionist propaganda . Cheers .
Occasionally the camera focuses on the back of Owen's head: as lovely as he is, I'd prefer his head the other way round, or Mhairi. Other than that, great interview - I was initially skeptical, but to my surprise Mhairi's quite impressive.
I personally like Mhari Black but I have to call bullsh*t on her 'SNP cuts' line. She starts talking about the block grant that the Scottish government gets from Westminster. Yet the real pain of (SNP) austerity is being felt most keenly in local services, affecting everything from bin collections to social care to education to libraries. Who has controlled council tax since 2007? You got it, the SNP. They have implemented a council tax freeze for the last 9 years which may be popular (it is a populist policy after all) but puts Scottish councils in an even worse position than English ones. The SNP would rather fine councils like Highland council (where I live) rather than allow them to put up rates. The end result is thousands of job losses and local services going to the wall. IF THAT ISN'T AN SNP CUT THEN WHAT IS? The stuff about being taxed twice I really couldn't follow - it certainly doesn't seem to correspond with Labour and the Lib Dem plans to put 1p on income tax. Black says that her hands are tied and that she can't do anything because she doesn't have independence. How about taking some actual responsibility for the powers your government DOES have? There's a question I would've liked Owen to ask her! Those of us who are fighting tooth and nail against a level of cuts on a par with (if not worse than) those that George Osborne is foisting on England certainly resent SNP politicians like Black cheering those cuts on whilst trying to claim the moral high ground.
Kind of weird that someone who thinks being part of a United Kingdom undermines Scottish sovereignty while advocating that it's vital to remain part of the EU.
How can I explain it to you.......so you understand. Hmmm....1 equal voice within 27 voices versus 1 voice in 4 where only 1 voice counts, easy choice really. Where we can trade with 500 Million and 65 Million, including the new big deals with China and Japan just set up which Trump is dying to get in on - best of both worlds EU is about the right degree of ‘union’ between nations. A union of practical stuff but retaining sovereignty, a veto and no 1 member has much over 15% of vote, so it’s all by negotiation / compromise. UK union = total power to an 85% English parliament with no veto for others
As an English woman, I don't agree with all her politics but she is a great role model to girls. Inspiring stuff, she's an outstanding young politician.
As we can't trust our MP's and our media, what makes you think that I'm going to listen to one word of what you ever say? You've proved time and time again that you're not on the public's side, so we're making our own way from now on, thank you very much!
Her point about Scotland having to follow what England wants. It's not even that--it's what Southern and rural England want. As a Northerner, in an area of the country that would never elect a right-wing party into government, I have to suffer the same thing. It's always what some provincial, parochial, reactionary Southerners want. This is why the historical area of Northumbria should also fight for devolution and eventual independence.
PS: Amazing interview. The Scottish Referendum was a turning point in my life. I used to live in Edinburgh (Manchester now). My former boyfriend and I went through the referendum in daily contact. He got really worked up. When it was lost I said "Well, you're passionate about, do something - stand in the election in May [2015". He turned the question round - why don't I? So I did. I know you hate my party but I genuinely see me and others like me are there to turn the party around and remove the unsavoury part - or at least side line them. Watching that interview gave me a twinge of "what if I had been elected". I really think she is amazing - her speeches on pensions and pensioners is really world-class. Well done with the interview - we should definitely meet one day, I am sure we would get on like a house on fire [wink, wink, hint, hint]
You should interview Sian Berry. Interesting issue there with her policies being closer to Jeremy Corbyn's than Sadiq Khan's are, but if Khan loses that would be seen as a rejection of Corbyn.
So true - imagine a society of people interacting for the general benefit of each other. This is not often seen or experienced by younger people who do see and experience Westminster debate, policies and laws being set in general for the benefit few - or those who shout loudest.
"There would have to be compromise" - NOOOOOO really? Compromise in politics and not always getting what you want? Does she actually think everything would work in an independent Scotland, everyone would agree and there would be no need for compromise when the majority of Scotland actually voted to stay in the UK? SNP politicians bitching about no one caring about Scotland when they're unwilling to compromise and their only response to everything is Scotland. They're like Pokemon!
The saddest thing is...... almost all SNP supporters I know personally also support the Labour Party and were brought up in strong socialist leaning families and communities .... so when senior members of the current Labour Party are so antagonistic towards the SNP they are absolutely shooting themselves in the foot as we are one and the same! We should both be working together to oppose the Tories!!!!!!!
The SNP has a lot of talented and able politicians and Mhairi is one of them. Scotland has provided Labour with good ones throughout its history as has Wales After the referendum when all the parties went into meltdown Nicola Sturgeon looked like the only one capable of leading the whole country. I always get annoyed with Labour for hating British and English nationalism and yet being in bed with Welsh, Irish and Scottish Nationalism.
i am Welsh, the UK needs a Federal written Consitution, setting out all the principles and tenants of "democracy with level playing field, within the 4 nations.." that is complete overall of "fair tax,fair,voting system & distribution of the wealth ,out of the south east of england"... of course, st davids,st georges,st patricks & st andrews day needs too be made "national holidays, there should be no shame in flying any national flags, or the promotion of these days as public and bank holidays"...
"The entirety of Scotland can be out voted by one city." As of 2014, Scotland had a population of 5.348 million, while London had a population of 8.539 million; represented by 59 and 73 MPs respectively. Therefore, Scotland actually has slightly greater representation as a proportion of their total population, with each Scottish MP representing ~91,000 people, but each London MP representing ~117,000 people. London would actually need to have around 94 MPs (that's 21 more!) to have the same representation as Scotland. In fact compared to England in general, Scotland still has greater representation, with England having ~102,000 people/MP. If you believe (as Mhairi does) that because of the far larger size of England's population, Scotland should become independent - so that its' people can have greater governance over its' laws and policies - then fair enough; but don't forget, given Scotland's population, it proportionately out votes its' larger neighbour.
+Yama Ha Agreed. Politically, I'm by no means a UKIP supporter, but under a supposed democratic system they deserved far more seats; same with the Green party. First past the post favours larger parties, and with Labour's loss of Scottish support, changes to constituency boundaries and party funding, Corbyn's lack of wider appeal and a media set against him, and the infantile internal conflict, we appear to lack a credible opposing party which can hold government to account or form a majority government. Only under proportional representation can every vote, every person, every opinion, be counted. To call FPP fair, where a party can win 30% of the vote in a constituency (disregarding 70%) then claim to be elected by the region is illogical. The weaknesses of FPP to deliver a government chosen by the people, far outweigh its strengths; and it is only because it would damage those with the power to change the law that the system has remained. I personally advocate the additional member system. This allows retention of regional representation based on a candidates qualities, and to be then allowed to chose a political party for government based on policy.
Well it entails experience and for the most part wisdom and level headedness, for example in America and the Roman republic the candidate had to be a well seasoned statesman. It was a proven indicator of worthy leadership.
I'm turning 22 this year and I was thinking about getting involved in civil service and politics.. in 13-20 years. Mhairi has shown me that I can enter politics as a young person and stand for the things I believe in.
Thomas, First join a political party, go study Social Sciences,gain a degree, stand for office in your party. And work,it cannot be underestimated. You have to work,get out amongst the people and listen,and learn,your young, I have been involved,go do it ! Best Wishes young man..
The issue with young people getting actively involved in politics is that any politician is socially scrutinised. When something comes up that a 40 year old has done, they can blame it on their teenage naivety. When a young person is called out on their past, it is recent and thus cannot hide behind that defence. For any person who has lived and made socially unacceptable mistakes, which the majority of people have, they can't get into politics, or they'd be eviscerated by the media.
+tris421 That is the duality that we left leaning yes voters faced.I believe in being inclusive and I don't support nationalism but on the day of the refferendum I was faced with a choice not of "Do I want to be separate ?" but rather "Do I believe in Westminster ?"I personally would have been much happier with a vote to stay one nation but to knock Westminster down and start again, see if we would get something that actually represents the people , sadly that wasn't a ballot option. So I took the one nearest to it.There are SNP supporters who are pure nationalists and think in those terms but the reason the vote was so close was not a hatred of our brothers and sisters south of the border but a deep contempt for what Westminster has become ( or always was ).
I have a hard enough time thinking that, when my parents were younger than I am now, they'd already had two kids and a mortgage for many years. The thought of a twenty-year-old legislator is still more depressing. (Though when I was fifteen, I _would_ have said I'd be in Congress as soon as I met the minimum age requirement, which is 25 here. By 20 I'd long since given up on that, realizing that sleeping till noon, watching soaps, and looking at porn are worthier goals. Given that the first Congress I was old enough to join was the session in which mindlessly dogmatic Teabaggers first began their obstructionism, I think I made the right choice.)
free prescriptions in Scotland have done nothing but create a culture of free loading by where people will rather attend a doctors to get over the counter medication for nothing rather than pay the relatively low costs of the drug/treatment in generic form (eg 25p for ibuprofen). It should be governed on ability to pay. Rather that if you can afford to pay for prescriptions you pay. Children, those with Chronic/terminal conditions, pregnant women, low income, students would still receive free meds. But those able to pay would pay. It should be the same with tuition fees. Make the well off pay. This would not stop ability governing academic achievement over ability to pay.
Great interview and I hope Owen gets a chance to cover more of Scottish politics. I thought Mhairi could have done better on the independence question. If you agree with devolution you realise the end of that road is the Scottish government taking all powers from London to manage Scotland properly. I think many people believed that Scottish independence supporters were separatists. That accusation should hopefully end after the large majority voting to remain in the EU in June. I bet Owen knows a lot about Scottish political history. Does he think that a country like Scotland would have been a positive force in the world, if independent?
Her enthusiasm and commitment are an inspiration. Well said Mhairi Black. The contrast with the majority of Westminster politicians is glaring. The status quo is not working, and driving a breakup of the UK.
Everyone saying she has no life experience should take a hard look at the prime minister and the many privileged Westminster boys. Her past is far more grounded in reality, and those who think otherwise are not.
Mhairi might not rate Parliament too highly, but she certainly gives them a good bashing, and from what I've seen, puts some of them in their place now and again. One of the very few politicians I find myself having a lot of respect for.
+John Richardson Well,in that case you are easily pleased!
Andrew Pollock Err, no, I wouldn't say that. I am basing my opinions on what I happen to have seen of her, that's all.
Me too, I think she does a great job.
She's hardly ever at Westminster but always accepts her salary and her expenses for 1st class travel !!
Am so humbled and so proud of Mairhi and she is now deputy leader of the SNP at Westminster along with Stephen Flynn.Amazing woman is our Mairhi.
LOVE Mhairi Black! We need many more politicians like her.
Should have asked if she'd prefer a Conservative Independent Scotland, or a Socialist UK. Just because Scotland would be independent, doesn't mean it'd be left wing.
Mhair is a diamond! And being where she is at the moment will help her polishing her skills. The future looks a little bit more hopeful with her in the picture.
Sorry, but at around five and half mins in, that was the Resolution Foundation who described the tax as progressive. I mistakenly said the Scottish TUC.
+Owen Jones And here's a link to prove it: www.resolutionfoundation.org/media/blog/scottish-labour-has-a-tax-policy-let-the-debate-commence/
+Owen Jones Have you heard of/do you watch TYT?
you position yourself as anti-war, yet when talking about tge Syrian conflict on this morning a couple of months back, why did you repeat a lie that has been pretty well debunked, in that Assad gassed his own people?
+Tom Tom For some reason the left decided to be less sceptical when it came to syria I suppose because the left wing media was the driving force as the platform running the propaganda and the right wing media was the counter. When it turned out that most of the sources for those guardian pro-war propaganda articles was a one man outfit monitoring twitter out of a one-bedroom flat in london likely funded/working for the british, for some reason the left ignored it. Maybe owen is a hypocrite and just goes along with it.
+Owen Jones i really hope the socialist bloc in SNP are successful because one of their councillors( aye one character with a power trip!)is terrorizing the poor in glasgow. See the recent forced closure of the Greater Maryhill Foodbank for details. thig-ar-la
People will stand on her shoulders in years and years to come. How great that will be. I don't think she knows how inspiring she is. How life changing she is to younger people, the world over. Nice change from some young people with famous faces, who are all "me me me". She's so humble and that will never change. Her parents did a grand job. Mhairi even tilted my stand on Scotland going it alone, a little anyway, haha
A healthy distrust of authority is good thing in those who are in a position of authority.
e could do with quite a few more Mhairi Black's in Westminster and in particular in the Labour party. I have no doubt that one day she will be leading an independent Scotland...
Big lol
BigAlFiGala Keep watching...
Hopefully when Scotland finally becomes independent from the rest of the UK, this woman should either be the deputy leader or the leader of Scotland. She's a breath of fresh air in the world of politics!
Why is the SNP getting such an easy ride for having a pro-EU anti-UK stance? If Mhairi's argument for independence (i.e. no more compromise with centre right politics) is to be taken at face value, then how does she justify having a pro-EU stance? Even more absurdly, the SNP are saying that a Brexit vote could trigger another Scottish Referendum - as they are not prepared to remain within a centre right nation that is not prepared to remain within a centre right institution. They are fervently arguing for compromise, just not within the UK. They are not anti-establishment, just anti-British.
As a young female about to start a degree in politics (from Manchester but will be studying at Glasgow), Mhairi is one of the few politicians I can honestly relate to. I'd like to think one day parliament will be filled with more MPs of her sort, without sounding too optimistic.
Wait, Owen Jones is over 20?
+MrHappyfuntimeskayak I'm over thirty too.
+Owen Jones interesting how you'll ignore my comment and respond to one written later meaning you skipped right pass it. What's the matter Owen? Don't you think that you should confront Labour sanctioned misogyny?
+Owen Jones Peter Pan detected!
+WayT101 Why don't you do a video on it considering you seem so enthusiastic about it?
Harry Lakity Because that would completely defeat the point of it you leftist moron.
Heroes. Go Scotland! (and take us with you please).
Best wishes,
Yorkshire
You're English, mate. You can either build up an English movement of your own or move to Scotland.
What an incredible, impressive and relate-able woman. Great interview.
The young have been treated terribly in recent years, great to see folk like Mhairi representing them but we need more! If you're young and in Scotland join the SNP or whichever party you feel represents your views. Don't be afraid to come along to party meetings and make your voice heard, you'll be welcomed with open arms :-) It's your future - help build it.
I'm not young but I am pleased to see a younger generation take up the cudgels or run the gauntlet of politics, politicians and the press, in the struggle for common sense to prevail, and to prevail in a fair minded society. I have liked and respected both yourself and Mhairi Black since early video encounters and TV etc. - not because you were both so young [I know that you Owen, are a 30 something now] when you began, but because it was time for each of you to claim your part in your own future, and the futures of those, a large number, whom you both represent either in Parliament or by ideal. I have no advice for either of you except to keep on doing what each of you are doing; it is both a good thing and very necessary. Best wishes!
I mean, If I was Scottish I'd agree.
Just praying the Scots don't leave us with the Tories forever
Politicians like Mhairi Black are worth their weight in gold whichever side you're on. She's passionate, honest and assertive, would make a great prime minister
She doesn't want that job..........she would abolish Westminster...
I'm English !
I'd vote for this genuine, thinking, articulate individual in a blink !
Mhairi Black doesn’t really know what she’s talking about. There is NO way I am voting SNP if she is a future leader. Free tuition has meant fewer places for Scottish students. This is the reality. So many people go to University but they don’t end up being MPs on80k. Instead they compete in a race to the bottom.
Interesting to hear the dark side, as it were, of Parliament. The sexism etc. And, too, the bubble. The utter bubble of the privileged. I mean, the likes of Cameron and others, I think, lack empathy. Because they're privileged, spoiled and have lived in a perpetual bubble.
I'm English and as much as I would like Scotland to stay in the UK, they don't tend to be as stupid as English people to not remember the past history of Tories when they lie, as soon as they read a Tory propaganda headline. You don't see many Scottish people crying on Question Time because they believed the Tories, as they remember that Tories have harmed more British people and society than anything from the EU. They know that Tories don't have the interests of most people at heart. They know that UKIP is made up of extreme ex-Tories who are against EU as it's stopping them from abusing British people, and their main policy is to get rid of human rights from all British people.
If we leave the EU then Scotland will want to be a separate nation in the EU more than ever, and then Tories will then turn England into a USA state like they have done before, and make everybody else in the world hate us for reasons only the few at the top benefit from.
Despite Tories first getting us into the European market when they thought it would only be good for the upper classes and their corporate donors, as soon as there were EU directives good for most people such as allowing workers enough breaks and making companies label GM food, Tories made the rest of Europe hate us and also Ireland on the other side when they made no attempt at a peace plan, dubbing out voices of N Irish politicians in the media so we didn't know other opinions, putting us all in danger.
Lots of people go on about Blair and Iraq, but they forget that it was the Tories who made us so involved with the USA that we couldn't have left for the 2nd war if we wanted. Boris Johnson tells us what to do with the EU, when he can't or pretends to not remember what his own party has done, because on same TV show everybody made a fuss with his Germany never used chemical weapons comments, nobody noticed he said there wasn't a vote on the 2nd war against Iraq, when more Tory MPs voted yes to it that other parties.
Thatcher made us the only country that allowed the USA to use us as an airport to bomb Libya which killed Gaddafi's child and led to Lockerbie. Other countries wouldn't even give them airspace and made them fly around. That was in the cold war when Russia was an ally of Libya, USA was planning the Star Wars protective shield but we would have nothing. I remember a lying question dodging Tory being asked lots of times on the TV what protection we would have in Reagan's Star Wars while being their lap dogs, and he eventually said we wouldn't have anything.
Then John Major made us the 2nd largest force in the 1st Iraq war, and we were the only other country going on bombing raids with the USA in the region up until 2nd war, so that we couldn't have left all our commitments there on the day before USA decided to go to war a 2nd time.
It's happening again now. We're arming Saudi Arabia while saying less brutal nations like Syria under Assad need to be overthrown, supporting the USA sending arms to extremists groups against Assad so that Islamic State are driving around Syria in trucks the USA sent there.
+British Renaissance Britain can't have a nationalist party because Britain is not a nation, it's a collection of islands. If you meant England, then that's further proof of the divide between our nations.
+British Renaissance There is nothing to stop England having a nationlist party, but I thought that's what the Tories were, as they dont seem to do much good for N.Ireland, or Wales or the north of England either
+SuzLa1 Oh yes, because Labour have been a gift to Britain. NOT!
We are a lap dog to the USA because we owe them money.
+Intuitivelogic Labour are the establishments managed dissent.
Cool interview Owen :) I'm not a fan of the SNP but as a young woman interested in politics I have a lot of respect for Mhairi :) It would be cool to see you interviewing more young people in the future, keep up the good work xx
Labour can't win a general election alone, it needs to work with parties like SNP, lib dems and greens in order to keep the tory out of power in 2020. A more proportional voting system would help toward that goal and I wish labout would officially support electoral reform .
+Totalwarking7 It feels like the options for Scotland in 2020 will to be to either give in and help Labour form a majority for the good of UK or stick to SNP and run the risk of another Conservative government
Or SNP could work with labour and stop the tories from being elected in 2020.
+Totalwarking7 quite unlikely with the whole Independence thing
How do you propose the SNP do that? It's up to labour to win enough seats in England, that's were you lost the election. Labour could've won every single seat in scotland and the Tories would still have had a majority. I can almost guarantee that if Labour reclaim enough English seats to were nobody gets a majority, the SNP would be willing to enter a coalition with them, although there would be a large number of conditions to such an arrangement
+DynamiteShovel1 The SNP are willing to work with Labour in 2020, in fact if Labour remain toward the left then Corbyn or, more likely, an other left leaning leader would have better friends in them than they would on their own backbenches. The only way the SNP can stop a Labour government is by spooking English voters by the prospect of a coalition with them, which in fairness to them is hardly the SNP's fault. Besides, they are going to have a large number of seats in Scotland even if they lose half of them, which is unlikely, so they will be a factor whether Labour like it or not.
The best they can do is have a strong leader who has clear line on any deal from as early as possible. One option would be for Labour to say they will work with the SNP, but not give away any more powers to Scotland as part of any deal. They might not like it, but they do not have much of an option other than to work with the Tories.
Scotland seems to think the majority of Britain actually want this government.
So much stronger to overthrow them together.
+Zac Hallgaten Well, sadly the Conservatives won a majority. Now the flaws of first past the post and decades of gerrymandering by all sides are well documented, but ultimately the Tories won, and really quite a lot of people support them. Why is varied and nuanced. And it's probably a little selfish of Scotland to leave us with those scumbags, but I can't blame them for wanting to help themselves. I just hope it's not to cold when I emigrate there.
+Zac Hallgaten Well the majority of you keep bloody voting for them. :)
+mavis cruet Don't sweat it Mave , we burn effigies of Gideon and Co on a daily basis ( Wickerman style ) you can warm your soft southern hands on the flames. Don't breathe in the smoke though.
+mavis cruet I blame our system. 36% of a 66% turnout is somehow considered a majority. Forgive my maths, but isn't that something like 20% of the electorate?
I think deep down I might just be jealous Scotland have a potential escape route from this abomination. Might start booking my ticket up there now...
+Govanmauler Cheers. I used to be up near the borders, I can take a bit of a chill, but a burning tory or even Ewar Woowar would be appreciated.
I really admire and respect this woman, a great politician. Wish they would lower the Scottish boundary to include Cumbria, where I live!
Mark of the lady - has an earth shattering, massive event and her response is to think of those others that had worked all of their lives to create that event. She really is amazing - well done on the interview Owen :)
Mhairi Black is an inspiration to us all
She makes me want to move to Scotland.
+joe mazmo She makes me want to move out of Scotland.
+Maddy Burrows Bye.
+joe mazmo Mon up!
+Eilidh LEwsey Put the kettle on I'm on my way!!
+Chris Duffy
Should all Scots who dislike the SNP leave Scotland aye?
Well!?
The SNP to me are a breath of fresh air, even when I don't agree with them.
They are the only party who genuinly have the interests of the electorate at heart.
How anyone can support Westminster which is constantly stamping on the head of the disabled and vulnerable whilst giving themselves pay rises is beyond me.
Lets break free from the monster that is Westminster.
I don't understand why she's so pro EU when she gives an example of there always being compromise with 4 countries (surely a union with 28 countries is a lot worse, and much more dictatory!)
she's a Marxist, my dad's from cranhill, Glasgow, I love Scotland, and if Scotland left the UK and the EU fair play do it! but staying in the EU shows that these people are moronic idiots, the EU is undemocratic and economically raping the UK.
Because obviously the EU does not have as wide a scope of legislative power over Scotland as the rest of the U.K has.
jay fams Well I guess they're all in for a shock if Britain leaves and Scotland votes for independence, becoming a EU member.
One of the problems I foresee if this happens is floods of EU immigrants going to Scotland then illegally crossing the boarder to England. I think one of the reasons the peoples of Scotland are so pro EU is because things like open boarder immigration haven't affected them on nearly the same level as England.
*****
actually regulation is not legislation, and the scope of regulatory overight is not the same as quantum. And the extent to which it affects national sovereignty is also not equivilant.
Samuel Coe
perhaps, I doubt immigration has affected people in england merely as much as the English think it has either
I wanted the quick fire questions to be answers with "Wank, Wank Good guy, Wank" style.
The Torys and Westminster are some of the reasons Scotland wants out of this unequal union. It also looks like N Ireland wants out as well
and Wales now too......... You would think they would be wondering why every country that used to be under Westminster control have left.
Going to be bizarre if and when Scotland gets another independence referendum; everyone will have to swap their "leaving a political union" arguments again. As others have said her arguments for leaving the UK can easily transfer to the EU especially on the issue of compromise. Still I've always liked her. She's someone I'd want in my corner.
Mhairi's just the best. I have a lot of respect for her even though, being a year younger than me, she does make me feel fantastically inadequate.
I'm 17 and you're definitely encouraging me Owen. Thank you for this interview - fascinating and very inspiring. Can't wait for more!
Can the North East become apart Mhairi Black's Scotland. It sound brilliant and anything is better than what we get from Westminster.
I admire her passion but the SNP simply don't want independence. If they had a proper plan for Scotland, with their own government and their own currency - real independence, then the people would vote for it and an independent Scotland would be a success... but the SNP are simply not offering that.
+MightyDemocracy It's you again ! So, the UK leaves Europe (what's the plan there, I'd like to know ?) but Scotland
should stay within the UK - why is that ?
Mark Somers Yep, I like to troll Owen Jones as much as possible.. politely of course...
I would be happy for Scotland to become independent if that's what they want. I think it would be good for them. However, I think the UK has many things that the EU does not which allow it to work. Firstly, it has consent, whereas the EU does not and continuously ignores referendums that undermine it. Secondly, and most importantly, the 4 nations all share a common language, culture and values. This means that we can have a legitimate functioning democracy whereas a country with multiple languages cultures and religions must be ruled from the top down.
"When I was 20 I was just lounging around in my pants, hungover" - Absolute gold! Great interview once again Owen. I totally agree that we need to well and truly pop the so-called 'Westminster bubble', too many Hooray Henrys playing games with vulnerable people's lives.
As the guy who suggested this to Owen, thank you for doing this.
Mhairi as engaging as ever before.
Stay the way you are please dont change like the rest of all mp's
pauline Bloggs
'Stay as sweet as you are,
Don't let a thing ever change you
Stay as sweet as you are,
Don't let a soul re-arrange you,
.....night & day I pray
that you'll always stay
as sweet as you are'
From an old song:
She must be powerful, too
--- because she makes me cry
--- I am so afraid for the Youth of this country, especially now!
Couldn't Mhairi be cloned?
Hee-hee 😈
Crucially from June 8th, Labour will become a force in Scotland again, now Scottish voters realise Labour actually are left-wing. Mhairi acknowledged this around 9:00 in, there's no compromise required in England any more. 42% of the English vote went to a totally left wing manifesto. I fully agree with the Scots who voted SNP, Labour weren't adequate to represent their views as a country generally, however Corbyn has rectified this, and I can't wait to welcome them back and give the Tories a kicking.
Mhairi is fantastic. There are always going to be folk who use prejudice to persuade and control, but Mhairi will rise above this archaic practice of right politics and lead the way for the many she represents. I feel represented by her politics and I hope she can continue to persuade using her reason and compassion for her constituents and wider politic objectives. Thank you, Owen, for providing a platform for the left.
Brilliant interview. Really inspiring to see Mhairi so committed to helping people have a better life and putting up with such crap from Westminster to achieve it. Thanks for the insights Owen.
I think Mhairi Black is wonderful! Too bad she can't be here in the U.S Congress!
Such an Inspiring ,sincere lady!
Young Owen, she's not a real politician - probably a welder.
I really wish she was a Labour MP :( she is amazing
Totally admire this sensible young MP, Mharir Black. More young people like this in politics please!
Once you go Mhairi Black you never go back.
Love this girl a future leader,great interview Owen .
What she said about the Labour party then still stands. Soft Tories.
I wish she was prime minister
Love you Mhairi, you're the best!
She would be an absolute force on the Labour Party. I love her unapologetic stance on nationalisation and education. Labour became too anglocentric and left a lot of Scottish voters out to dry. They turned to the SNP who offered a viable leftist alternative.
That,s why Scottish Labour are now known as Red Tories up here, they became Blairites,moved to the right and distanced themselves from the Scottish electorate.
I know,I was a Labour branch treasurer, I,m no Blairite, I left Labour, won't vote Labour ever again..
Please Owen, use an Audacity filter to take the underground noise off your vídeo. It is very simple, very quick and will improve de quality a lot. Particularly for me, because i am a Brazilian, used to hear american english and when i hear an english talkin with a scott you might imagine how difficult it is for me to understand with all that noise. It would be like you understand a person from angola talkin to a portuguese when you are used to hear brazilians.
I wish we had someone like that in Labour
Labour is way too compromised its a lost cause .Its first priority is to the Brit state . Most SNP voters are old school labour thinking btw dont listen to the overwhelming unionist propaganda . Cheers .
Occasionally the camera focuses on the back of Owen's head: as lovely as he is, I'd prefer his head the other way round, or Mhairi. Other than that, great interview - I was initially skeptical, but to my surprise Mhairi's quite impressive.
I personally like Mhari Black but I have to call bullsh*t on her 'SNP cuts' line. She starts talking about the block grant that the Scottish government gets from Westminster. Yet the real pain of (SNP) austerity is being felt most keenly in local services, affecting everything from bin collections to social care to education to libraries. Who has controlled council tax since 2007? You got it, the SNP. They have implemented a council tax freeze for the last 9 years which may be popular (it is a populist policy after all) but puts Scottish councils in an even worse position than English ones. The SNP would rather fine councils like Highland council (where I live) rather than allow them to put up rates. The end result is thousands of job losses and local services going to the wall.
IF THAT ISN'T AN SNP CUT THEN WHAT IS?
The stuff about being taxed twice I really couldn't follow - it certainly doesn't seem to correspond with Labour and the Lib Dem plans to put 1p on income tax. Black says that her hands are tied and that she can't do anything because she doesn't have independence. How about taking some actual responsibility for the powers your government DOES have? There's a question I would've liked Owen to ask her! Those of us who are fighting tooth and nail against a level of cuts on a par with (if not worse than) those that George Osborne is foisting on England certainly resent SNP politicians like Black cheering those cuts on whilst trying to claim the moral high ground.
She is such an inspiration.
She's such a fucking doughball ! A 20 year old with no adult life experience... doughball !
You need to start a new party in England called The Progressive Party, and align with the SNP in most policies.
That would be good ideas.........but not sure England are up to it. They seem to like voting for their own poverty
I ADORE her!
she is amazing, we need more people like her in Parliment
I agree with the "Soft Conservatives" in the Labour party, Jeremy needs to clean these out
The Blairites. The Europhilles. The career politicians.
Clear them all out.
+Promoagent Ahh it's the new kind of politics in action, get rid of anyone you disagree with. Just like his hero Mao.
Daniel May Ahh you're smart. When someone isn't doing their job, you fire them dummie.
+Promoagent they can't simply be cleared out and they wont go away quietly or quickly, no matter how loud we are :(
+Promoagent sorry im just a prawn
Kind of weird that someone who thinks being part of a United Kingdom undermines Scottish sovereignty while advocating that it's vital to remain part of the EU.
How can I explain it to you.......so you understand.
Hmmm....1 equal voice within 27 voices versus 1 voice in 4 where only 1 voice counts, easy choice really.
Where we can trade with 500 Million and 65 Million, including the new big deals with China and Japan just set up which Trump is dying to get in on - best of both worlds
EU is about the right degree of ‘union’ between nations.
A union of practical stuff but retaining sovereignty, a veto and no 1 member has much over 15% of vote, so it’s all by negotiation / compromise.
UK union = total power to an 85% English parliament with no veto for others
A politician who actually answers questions - Exactly what Britain needs!
Britain will never get her she is SNP and proud.
Such an inspiration to young British women!
So Happy you got to speak to her, she should be the spearhead of how new MP's should be
If you ever get Independence please can you take the north of England with you? We have so much more in common with you than we do with the capital.
As an English woman, I don't agree with all her politics but she is a great role model to girls. Inspiring stuff, she's an outstanding young politician.
As we can't trust our MP's and our media, what makes you think that I'm going to listen to one word of what you ever say?
You've proved time and time again that you're not on the public's side, so we're making our own way from now on, thank you very much!
wow. She actually talks so much sense!
Won't see it on the BBC will you though?
A Federal system would be better than complete independence. Also there are inconsistencies in saying Scotland should be independent and join the EU.
Her point about Scotland having to follow what England wants. It's not even that--it's what Southern and rural England want.
As a Northerner, in an area of the country that would never elect a right-wing party into government, I have to suffer the same thing. It's always what some provincial, parochial, reactionary Southerners want.
This is why the historical area of Northumbria should also fight for devolution and eventual independence.
PS: Amazing interview. The Scottish Referendum was a turning point in my life. I used to live in Edinburgh (Manchester now). My former boyfriend and I went through the referendum in daily contact. He got really worked up. When it was lost I said "Well, you're passionate about, do something - stand in the election in May [2015". He turned the question round - why don't I? So I did. I know you hate my party but I genuinely see me and others like me are there to turn the party around and remove the unsavoury part - or at least side line them. Watching that interview gave me a twinge of "what if I had been elected". I really think she is amazing - her speeches on pensions and pensioners is really world-class. Well done with the interview - we should definitely meet one day, I am sure we would get on like a house on fire [wink, wink, hint, hint]
You should interview Sian Berry. Interesting issue there with her policies being closer to Jeremy Corbyn's than Sadiq Khan's are, but if Khan loses that would be seen as a rejection of Corbyn.
So true - imagine a society of people interacting for the general benefit of each other. This is not often seen or experienced by younger people who do see and experience Westminster debate, policies and laws being set in general for the benefit few - or those who shout loudest.
"There would have to be compromise" - NOOOOOO really? Compromise in politics and not always getting what you want? Does she actually think everything would work in an independent Scotland, everyone would agree and there would be no need for compromise when the majority of Scotland actually voted to stay in the UK? SNP politicians bitching about no one caring about Scotland when they're unwilling to compromise and their only response to everything is Scotland. They're like Pokemon!
The saddest thing is...... almost all SNP supporters I know personally also support the Labour Party and were brought up in strong socialist leaning families and communities .... so when senior members of the current Labour Party are so antagonistic towards the SNP they are absolutely shooting themselves in the foot as we are one and the same! We should both be working together to oppose the Tories!!!!!!!
The SNP has a lot of talented and able politicians and Mhairi is one of them. Scotland has provided Labour with good ones throughout its history as has Wales After the referendum when all the parties went into meltdown Nicola Sturgeon looked like the only one capable of leading the whole country. I always get annoyed with Labour for hating British and English nationalism and yet being in bed with Welsh, Irish and Scottish Nationalism.
i am Welsh, the UK needs a Federal written Consitution, setting out all the principles and tenants of "democracy with level playing field, within the 4 nations.."
that is complete overall of "fair tax,fair,voting system & distribution of the wealth ,out of the south east of england"... of course, st davids,st georges,st patricks & st andrews day needs too be made "national holidays, there should be no shame in flying any national flags, or the promotion of these days as public and bank holidays"...
+jardon jones
Heck, I have to ask this: where did you learn English?
lol, you are very funny, i almost always comment, at midnight, when i am most tired, english is my second language, is it yours?
+jardon Jones Well that's in no doubt. What's your first?
why??
are you being offensive, or implying my english is not fluent?
+jardon Jones It's not so much fluency as coherence, of ideas, of making any sense.
Let's have a couple of hundred more like her in Parliament and we might get somewhere.
+Richard Wells A couple of hundred neds in Parliament-isn't 56 enough for you?
+Andrew Pollock No, the more the merrier, things would get done then.
Owen you're doing a great job ! All power to you and thanks for bringing the genuine politicians forward
"The entirety of Scotland can be out voted by one city."
As of 2014, Scotland had a population of 5.348 million, while London had a population of 8.539 million; represented by 59 and 73 MPs respectively. Therefore, Scotland actually has slightly greater representation as a proportion of their total population, with each Scottish MP representing ~91,000 people, but each London MP representing ~117,000 people. London would actually need to have around 94 MPs (that's 21 more!) to have the same representation as Scotland. In fact compared to England in general, Scotland still has greater representation, with England having ~102,000 people/MP.
If you believe (as Mhairi does) that because of the far larger size of England's population, Scotland should become independent - so that its' people can have greater governance over its' laws and policies - then fair enough; but don't forget, given Scotland's population, it proportionately out votes its' larger neighbour.
+Yama Ha
Agreed. Politically, I'm by no means a UKIP supporter, but under a supposed democratic system they deserved far more seats; same with the Green party.
First past the post favours larger parties, and with Labour's loss of Scottish support, changes to constituency boundaries and party funding, Corbyn's lack of wider appeal and a media set against him, and the infantile internal conflict, we appear to lack a credible opposing party which can hold government to account or form a majority government.
Only under proportional representation can every vote, every person, every opinion, be counted. To call FPP fair, where a party can win 30% of the vote in a constituency (disregarding 70%) then claim to be elected by the region is illogical. The weaknesses of FPP to deliver a government chosen by the people, far outweigh its strengths; and it is only because it would damage those with the power to change the law that the system has remained.
I personally advocate the additional member system. This allows retention of regional representation based on a candidates qualities, and to be then allowed to chose a political party for government based on policy.
+Yama Ha you see the difference is snp ran in 59 constituencies ukip ran in 620ish thats why they got more votes
brill Owen.. she's a breath of fresh air.. like you.. age is not important.. ;9)
But age is needed for leading a nation!
+Lenny Law why..?
age and wisdom are entirly unrealted concepts..
Well it entails experience and for the most part wisdom and level headedness, for example in America and the Roman republic the candidate had to be a well seasoned statesman. It was a proven indicator of worthy leadership.
I'm turning 22 this year and I was thinking about getting involved in civil service and politics.. in 13-20 years.
Mhairi has shown me that I can enter politics as a young person and stand for the things I believe in.
Thomas, First join a political party, go study Social Sciences,gain a degree, stand for office in your party. And work,it cannot be underestimated.
You have to work,get out amongst the people and listen,and learn,your young, I have been involved,go do it ! Best Wishes young man..
The issue with young people getting actively involved in politics is that any politician is socially scrutinised. When something comes up that a 40 year old has done, they can blame it on their teenage naivety. When a young person is called out on their past, it is recent and thus cannot hide behind that defence. For any person who has lived and made socially unacceptable mistakes, which the majority of people have, they can't get into politics, or they'd be eviscerated by the media.
The link between Trump and Weimar Germany in '33 MB made is an apt one. BTW, if Trump wins will I be able to immigrate to Scotland?
she says young people should unite yet she wants to tag away from the rest of the young people in the UK. See you later then.
+tris421 That is the duality that we left leaning yes voters faced.I believe in being inclusive and I don't support nationalism but on the day of the refferendum I was faced with a choice not of "Do I want to be separate ?" but rather "Do I believe in Westminster ?"I personally would have been much happier with a vote to stay one nation but to knock Westminster down and start again, see if we would get something that actually represents the people , sadly that wasn't a ballot option. So I took the one nearest to it.There are SNP supporters who are pure nationalists and think in those terms but the reason the vote was so close was not a hatred of our brothers and sisters south of the border but a deep contempt for what Westminster has become ( or always was ).
Yes Mhairi!!! Great interview. Thanks Owen.
Love mhari black - hero
I have a hard enough time thinking that, when my parents were younger than I am now, they'd already had two kids and a mortgage for many years. The thought of a twenty-year-old legislator is still more depressing. (Though when I was fifteen, I _would_ have said I'd be in Congress as soon as I met the minimum age requirement, which is 25 here. By 20 I'd long since given up on that, realizing that sleeping till noon, watching soaps, and looking at porn are worthier goals. Given that the first Congress I was old enough to join was the session in which mindlessly dogmatic Teabaggers first began their obstructionism, I think I made the right choice.)
I love this woman!
free prescriptions in Scotland have done nothing but create a culture of free loading by where people will rather attend a doctors to get over the counter medication for nothing rather than pay the relatively low costs of the drug/treatment in generic form (eg 25p for ibuprofen).
It should be governed on ability to pay. Rather that if you can afford to pay for prescriptions you pay. Children, those with Chronic/terminal conditions, pregnant women, low income, students would still receive free meds. But those able to pay would pay.
It should be the same with tuition fees. Make the well off pay. This would not stop ability governing academic achievement over ability to pay.
"Tradition over Reason"....concise summary of Westminster
NO tuition fees isn't true. And I'm a SNP member and supporter but that one thing isn't true.
Great interview and I hope Owen gets a chance to cover more of Scottish politics.
I thought Mhairi could have done better on the independence question. If you agree with devolution you realise the end of that road is the Scottish government taking all powers from London to manage Scotland properly. I think many people believed that Scottish independence supporters were separatists. That accusation should hopefully end after the large majority voting to remain in the EU in June. I bet Owen knows a lot about Scottish political history. Does he think that a country like Scotland would have been a positive force in the world, if independent?