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| Humza Yousaf: What do young people want from new SNP leader? | Humza Yousaf: What do young people want from new SNP leader? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BBC Newsbeat spent a week speaking to young people around Scotland about big political issues | BBC Newsbeat spent a week speaking to young people around Scotland about big political issues |
| Humza Yousaf has taken over the job Nicola Sturgeon held for more than eight years. | Humza Yousaf has taken over the job Nicola Sturgeon held for more than eight years. |
| He's become the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the country's first minister. | |
| For many people in their teens and 20s, it's the biggest political change in Scotland in their adult lives. | For many people in their teens and 20s, it's the biggest political change in Scotland in their adult lives. |
| BBC Newsbeat spent a week speaking to young people across the country to find out what they think about some of the big issues facing the new SNP leader. | BBC Newsbeat spent a week speaking to young people across the country to find out what they think about some of the big issues facing the new SNP leader. |
| Scottish independence | Scottish independence |
| One of the things Nicola Sturgeon was best known for was her desire to make Scotland independent. | One of the things Nicola Sturgeon was best known for was her desire to make Scotland independent. |
| That would mean breaking away from the rest of the UK, and giving the government more control over its own laws and political decisions. | That would mean breaking away from the rest of the UK, and giving the government more control over its own laws and political decisions. |
| Catering student James was 10 years old in 2014, when Scotland held a referendum on becoming independent. | Catering student James was 10 years old in 2014, when Scotland held a referendum on becoming independent. |
| In the end, 55% voted to remain inside the UK and 45% voted for independence. | In the end, 55% voted to remain inside the UK and 45% voted for independence. |
| The 19-year-old says he remembers stickers - Yes or No - depending on which way people planned to vote. | The 19-year-old says he remembers stickers - Yes or No - depending on which way people planned to vote. |
| "You still see them now," he says. "Folks still have them on their cars and everything... mostly Yes." | "You still see them now," he says. "Folks still have them on their cars and everything... mostly Yes." |
| Catering student James was in primary school at the time of the 2014 referendum | Catering student James was in primary school at the time of the 2014 referendum |
| Fellow student Megan actually voted in 2014 - rules were changed so 16 and 17-year-olds could have their say. | Fellow student Megan actually voted in 2014 - rules were changed so 16 and 17-year-olds could have their say. |
| But does she still care about Scottish independence? | But does she still care about Scottish independence? |
| "If that would help with things, then definitely." | "If that would help with things, then definitely." |
| Humza Yousaf's said he's pro-independence, but so far he's sounded more cautious than Nicola Sturgeon on the issue. | Humza Yousaf's said he's pro-independence, but so far he's sounded more cautious than Nicola Sturgeon on the issue. |
| But it isn't the topic on the minds of most young people Newsbeat speaks to. | But it isn't the topic on the minds of most young people Newsbeat speaks to. |
| Melanie's view is straightforward: "It doesn't interest me at all. | Melanie's view is straightforward: "It doesn't interest me at all. |
| "They need to focus on the prices of stuff. The cost of living's going up far too much and people are struggling far too much." | "They need to focus on the prices of stuff. The cost of living's going up far too much and people are struggling far too much." |
| Cost of living | Cost of living |
| One person who's definitely felt the cost-of-living crisis hitting her bank account is 21-year-old Jody, from Dundee. | One person who's definitely felt the cost-of-living crisis hitting her bank account is 21-year-old Jody, from Dundee. |
| She's now based in Fort William, studying adventure education in the West Highlands and working in a soft play centre. | She's now based in Fort William, studying adventure education in the West Highlands and working in a soft play centre. |
| One big cost Jody's cut down on is rent - she's swapped living in a flat for a 20-year-old Maxus van she now calls home. | One big cost Jody's cut down on is rent - she's swapped living in a flat for a 20-year-old Maxus van she now calls home. |
| "It's a bit raggedy and rusty, but inside it's lovely and has everything I need," she says. | "It's a bit raggedy and rusty, but inside it's lovely and has everything I need," she says. |
| Jody says the van's fridge, small cooker and tiny heater have "definitely helped me to live cheaper". | Jody says the van's fridge, small cooker and tiny heater have "definitely helped me to live cheaper". |
| "The cost of petrol is the only thing I have to really worry about." | "The cost of petrol is the only thing I have to really worry about." |
| Jody says living in her van has saved her money on rent - but it can get very cold | Jody says living in her van has saved her money on rent - but it can get very cold |
| Jody she also has to contend with some brutal winter temperatures - something she says she only survived thanks to a sleeping bag onesie her mum bought for her. | Jody she also has to contend with some brutal winter temperatures - something she says she only survived thanks to a sleeping bag onesie her mum bought for her. |
| She says her experience has highlighted the need for a "balance of what people have and what people need". | She says her experience has highlighted the need for a "balance of what people have and what people need". |
| Even in Fort William, she says, there are "too many people, not enough houses" and rent costs are too high. | Even in Fort William, she says, there are "too many people, not enough houses" and rent costs are too high. |
| "A lot of people, even adults and older people are living in shared houses," she says. | "A lot of people, even adults and older people are living in shared houses," she says. |
| "That would be good to be sorted." | "That would be good to be sorted." |
| Climate | Climate |
| Nicola Sturgeon set ambitious climate targets for Scotland - but it's repeatedly missed them. | Nicola Sturgeon set ambitious climate targets for Scotland - but it's repeatedly missed them. |
| If he wants to catch up that could mean unpopular decisions for Humza Yousaf. | If he wants to catch up that could mean unpopular decisions for Humza Yousaf. |
| Especially in places like Aberdeen - the "oil capital of Europe" - where many are employed in the off-shore rigs off the coast. | Especially in places like Aberdeen - the "oil capital of Europe" - where many are employed in the off-shore rigs off the coast. |
| Jimmy, who talks to Newsbeat while walking his dog along the coast, tells us his dad works off-shore which is not unusual for the area. | Jimmy, who talks to Newsbeat while walking his dog along the coast, tells us his dad works off-shore which is not unusual for the area. |
| "Growing up in Aberdeen you always know somebody who works off-shore so it's certainly an industry that I would say affects everybody in the city and the north-east," he says. | "Growing up in Aberdeen you always know somebody who works off-shore so it's certainly an industry that I would say affects everybody in the city and the north-east," he says. |
| But he's not against changing the way things are done. | But he's not against changing the way things are done. |
| "If it's a managed transition I would move towards cleaner and greener energy, I think that's a good thing." | "If it's a managed transition I would move towards cleaner and greener energy, I think that's a good thing." |
| Climate campaigner Cerys wants the Scottish government to move more quickly on helping the climate | Climate campaigner Cerys wants the Scottish government to move more quickly on helping the climate |
| Cerys is a member of climate campaign Fridays for Future - a group that's welcomed Humza Yousaf's stance on phasing out fossil fuels in favour of renewables. | Cerys is a member of climate campaign Fridays for Future - a group that's welcomed Humza Yousaf's stance on phasing out fossil fuels in favour of renewables. |
| She says "oil and gas is something we have to transition away from as quickly as possible". | She says "oil and gas is something we have to transition away from as quickly as possible". |
| But Cerys acknowledges that it's "incredibly important that oil workers and their families are supported" in any move away from fossil fuels. | But Cerys acknowledges that it's "incredibly important that oil workers and their families are supported" in any move away from fossil fuels. |
| Things are changing - a little further up the coast from Aberdeen you can see a huge wind farm and a new harbour dedicated to supporting green energy. | Things are changing - a little further up the coast from Aberdeen you can see a huge wind farm and a new harbour dedicated to supporting green energy. |
| But for campaigners like Cerys it's not enough. | But for campaigners like Cerys it's not enough. |
| "Aberdeen could be the renewable energy capital of Europe instead of the oil capital," she says. | "Aberdeen could be the renewable energy capital of Europe instead of the oil capital," she says. |
| "Time is not on our hands here because we've waited so long." | "Time is not on our hands here because we've waited so long." |
| Gender rights | Gender rights |
| One issue that's dominated coverage of Scottish politics this year has been the row over trans rights. | One issue that's dominated coverage of Scottish politics this year has been the row over trans rights. |
| The Scottish parliament voted to make it easier for people to change their legal gender, but the UK government blocked the move. | The Scottish parliament voted to make it easier for people to change their legal gender, but the UK government blocked the move. |
| Humza Yousaf says he'll challenge the blocking of the bill in the courts, but only if legal advice supports this. | Humza Yousaf says he'll challenge the blocking of the bill in the courts, but only if legal advice supports this. |
| Who is Humza Yousaf, the new SNP leader? | Who is Humza Yousaf, the new SNP leader? |
| Yousaf confirmed as Scotland's new first minister | |
| What will be in First Minister Humza Yousaf's in-tray? | What will be in First Minister Humza Yousaf's in-tray? |
| The issue was put back in the spotlight this year when Isla Bryson, a transgender rapist, was jailed for attacking two women before changing gender. | The issue was put back in the spotlight this year when Isla Bryson, a transgender rapist, was jailed for attacking two women before changing gender. |
| Andi, 27, who identifies as non-binary, spoke to Newsbeat in Lenzie, near Glasgow. | Andi, 27, who identifies as non-binary, spoke to Newsbeat in Lenzie, near Glasgow. |
| "It's kind of scary to be a trans person in Scotland and also the UK right now," Andi says. | "It's kind of scary to be a trans person in Scotland and also the UK right now," Andi says. |
| Andi thinks the backlash against the Gender Reform Bill has been a setback for LGBT people. | Andi thinks the backlash against the Gender Reform Bill has been a setback for LGBT people. |
| "It took me a long time to figure out who I was," says Andi. "I think that's because I didn't have people in my life like me and people in Scotland didn't understand it." | "It took me a long time to figure out who I was," says Andi. "I think that's because I didn't have people in my life like me and people in Scotland didn't understand it." |
| The Gender Reform Bill has generated fierce debate from supporters and opponents | The Gender Reform Bill has generated fierce debate from supporters and opponents |
| Nicole, 25, from Edinburgh, is opposed to the changes to the gender laws and worries they'll make single-sex spaces like "accommodation, sport and women's refuges" less safe. | |
| This is one of the reasons critics, including high-profile opponents like JK Rowling, say the plans are an attack on women's rights. | This is one of the reasons critics, including high-profile opponents like JK Rowling, say the plans are an attack on women's rights. |
| Nicole's not convinced by the argument that other countries have relaxed self-identification rules without an increase in attacks on women. | Nicole's not convinced by the argument that other countries have relaxed self-identification rules without an increase in attacks on women. |
| "A lot of the time it's difficult to track because you're recording by gender identity and not sex, then you can't trace the impact," she says. | "A lot of the time it's difficult to track because you're recording by gender identity and not sex, then you can't trace the impact," she says. |
| But Andi says the proposed changes don't put women's rights at risk. | But Andi says the proposed changes don't put women's rights at risk. |
| "Those rights are still there, we're not asking to take them away, we're just asking for us to have rights too. | "Those rights are still there, we're not asking to take them away, we're just asking for us to have rights too. |
| "And if that means adapting something a little bit, that's all we're asking for." | "And if that means adapting something a little bit, that's all we're asking for." |
| Engaging young voters | Engaging young voters |
| Perhaps the biggest challenge for Humza Yousaf will be getting young people to pay attention to politics at all. | Perhaps the biggest challenge for Humza Yousaf will be getting young people to pay attention to politics at all. |
| Lots of those who spoke to Newsbeat said they didn't bother with it. | Lots of those who spoke to Newsbeat said they didn't bother with it. |
| "I don't really look at news," catering student James told us. "I only look at it if something big happens." | "I don't really look at news," catering student James told us. "I only look at it if something big happens." |
| And Jody, who lives in her van, said: "I find the news quite depressing, quite anxiety-inducing so I try to stay away from it." | And Jody, who lives in her van, said: "I find the news quite depressing, quite anxiety-inducing so I try to stay away from it." |
| But there might be some hope. Remember those 16 and 17 year olds given a vote in 2014? Three and a half million came to the ballot box. | But there might be some hope. Remember those 16 and 17 year olds given a vote in 2014? Three and a half million came to the ballot box. |
| So maybe they can be convinced to come back again. | So maybe they can be convinced to come back again. |
| Listen to BBC Newsbeat's special Scotland's next first minister on BBC Sounds. | Listen to BBC Newsbeat's special Scotland's next first minister on BBC Sounds. |
| Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Fort William | Fort William |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| SNP leadership contest 2023 | SNP leadership contest 2023 |
| Scottish independence | Scottish independence |
| Cost of living | Cost of living |
| Climate change | Climate change |
| LGBT | LGBT |
| Glasgow | Glasgow |
| Transgender people | Transgender people |
| Renewable energy | Renewable energy |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen |
| Dundee | Dundee |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |