Britain’s youngest MP for 350 years Mhairi Black will star in a new film urging Scottish youngsters to vote for the SNP in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
She appears in the party political broadcast A Tale of Two Cities, a short film contrasting the “modern and progressive” Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh with the “antiquated and out of touch” Palace of Westminster.
It is narrated by the actor and former footballer Martin Compston, star of police TV drama Line of Duty.
The short film includes a clip from Ms Black’s maiden speech, which went viral online and hit 10 million views within a week.
“We now have one of the most uncaring, uncompromising and out of touch governments that the UK has seen since Thatcher,” the 21-year-old MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South says.
Her role at the heart of the SNP’s Strong Scottish Voices film is a sign of a growing role for Ms Black in the party’s efforts to win a historic third term in government in Edinburgh.
Last month it was announced Ms Black will spearhead the SNP’s youth campaign in the run up to next May as 16 and 17-year-olds are given the vote for the first time and on Thursday the SNP’s deputy leader Stewart Hosie predicted Ms Black could be a future leader of the SNP.
“I’ve no doubt if that was what she wanted to do, given a bit of time and a lot of hard work I’m sure she could be, yes,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
“She’s contributed hugely and she’s carried herself incredibly well. I mean the demands on her time have been phenomenal,” he added.
Comparing the Holyrood Parliament in Edinburgh to the Westminster Parliament, Mr Compston says: “This is a tale of two cities; a tale of two parliaments. They’re separated by a lot more than just 400 miles.
“One is modern and progressive and a parliament committed to serving a nation engaged in the political process, a nation full of hope, expectation and aspiration.
“The other: an antiquated institution, outdated and out of touch with the people they claim to represent. For now these two places do at least have one thing in common: strong voices,” he added, referring to the influx of 50 new SNP MPs to Westminster in May’s general election.
