Young Women Belong in Politics

By Katie McSherry

What made this summit different?

It was co-designed by young women, not just for show, but in real terms. They hosted the day, created the agenda and asked the questions. They led the discussions.

On Friday 19th September we held the Young Women’s Summit, in the Scottish Parliament, organised by the Young Women’s Movement, Scottish Youth Parliament, us and Parliament itself. We brought together young women from across Scotland to build political power, skills, and a network.

And I love that we have this blog because I get the chance to reflect on what matters and to talk about an event that was really important to me, to us.

It was hands-on, practical, and political. From campaign skills to movement building, we created space to learn, share, and take real steps toward power.

Pepita Mwanga performed her poetry — Politics Needs Young Women Now

Pepita Mwanga performing her powerful poetry!

We’re less than 8 months away from the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, and the stakes are high. At present, Holyrood is made up of 45% women, and yet many fear we may see that progress roll back in the election.

Women - especially young, working-class, and marginalised women - continue to face significant barriers to political participation. Many feel that politics is out of reach, exclusive, or hostile.

That’s why the summit mattered. It was a space for real political education—not the dry, distant kind, but participatory, confidence-building, hands-on learning.

And above all, it was a reminder that politics belongs to all of us.

Building Skills: How to Run a Hustings

As part of the day, I ran a practical training on how to organise and run hustings—public meetings where voters can question candidates before an election.

For many, particularly young women, the idea of hosting or chairing a political event can feel intimidating.

But here's the thing all women need to know:

You already have what it takes.
You know your community. You know the issues.
You don’t need permission to take up space in democracy.

We covered:

How to plan and structure a hustings
How to make sure it’s inclusive and accessible
How to hold candidates to account
How to bring your community into the process and make it engaging

We also explored how to raise the issues that matter most to young women, build campaigns, and create political pressure that leads to change. Because politics doesn’t start at the ballot box. It starts in our communities, in our conversations, and in the courage to take action—even when we feel unsure.

The day was full of peer-led workshops, powerful discussions, and space to connect. But it also featured contributions from women currently inside the political system.

Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, opened up a conversation on what it takes to make political spaces work better for women.

She spoke about the cross-party Gender Sensitive Audit of the Parliament—a structural attempt to make the institution more representative and welcoming.

She was clear: we need more women in politics, and Parliament is committed to being part of the solution.

Alison also shared a powerful video

**You can watch it** **here**

We heard from Emma Roddick MSP, who shared her own story of being elected to her local council at just 21, and then into the Scottish Parliament at 23.

Her message was hard-hitting, she could literally point to the changes made because she was in the room. Because young women bring life experiences that can change decisions that are made:

“I always felt that I didn't know the right people, have the right backing, enough money, the right connections, but very quickly after getting into the rooms where the decisions were made, I realised what I had to offer: the problems I raised, the adjustments I suggested, were never going to be raised by the other people in that room if I wasn’t there.”

Her call to action was powerful:

“Do not wait for permission, no one is going to give it to you. Do not wait until you feel ready, I still often don’t feel ready for the day ahead of me. Your time is whenever you make it. And if your time is now- step up.”

Young women in Scotland are ready - They don’t need “empowering.” They need tools, platforms, and political access.

Young women are not a fringe interest group. They are:

Voters
Organisers
Activists
Future MSPs
Political leaders of today and tomorrow

This summit was just one step on a longer journey of political engagement and feminist leadership. But let's be clear: young women belong in politics—not someday, not maybe—now.