Angus Nelson is a candidate to win the SNP nomination to stand in Edinburgh Western at next year’s Scottish Parliamentary Election.
Here he tells us who he is and why he wants to become an MSP:
“I am a 21 year-old SNP member and environmental activist born and brought up in Western Edinburgh.
“I have spent much of my life in the city, and my grandfather was first an assistant head and then deputy head teacher of the Royal High School for over a decade.
“My interest in the environment extends to finding green initiatives for the aviation industry, to help tackle climate change. I want to help Edinburgh Airport transition to become an international, green aviation hub, with strong EU and global connections, under an independent Scotland.
“I am an actor and musician but had to take a step back from work for over a year when I was diagnosed with a heart condition. I have since gone through 2 operations, and I am now back to full health, but this time off helped me change focus and I found myself immersed in politics.
“I felt there was much more I could have done to try and further the cause of independence, so I set out to change that.
“I attended all the local branch meetings, SNP and YSI (Young Scots for Independence) conferences, and earlier this year I was named National Treasurer of the YSI. I have been campaigning for independence since 2012, I have passed vetting, and this will be my first time as a candidate.
“What I hope to achieve as a candidate for the SNP for Edinburgh Western is a stronger focus on the environment, and a strong cross-generational approach to Independence campaigning. Given that the highest support for independence currently lies in the 16-24 year old age group, I believe that people in that demographic need to see themselves reflected in potential candidates to get them out to vote. When they feel they have a voice representing them in Parliament, they are more likely to take interest and come to the ballot box, and the polls show they will vote for independence. I believe I can be the voice and candidate that motivates them to do so.”
Edinburgh Western is currently held by the Liberal Democrats. Alex Cole-Hamilton won the seat with a margin of 2,960 votes over the 2016 SNP candidate Toni Giugliano.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
