Youngsters get to grill MSPs

AN audience of first time voters will get the chance to quiz politicians at an event in Dumfries on Monday afternoon.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is hosting it as part of their Scottish Election Programme, which aims to spark debate on the key issues shaping Scotland’s future, and empower the public to make informed decisions, ahead of the Holyrood election in May 2026.

Taking part will be Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan SNP; Labour’s

Pam Duncan-Glancy; Craig Hoy for the Scottish Conservatives;

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton; Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer; and Alba leader Kenny MacAskill.

There will be a panel discussion with questions from audience, chaired by Dr Alicia Greated.

The youngsters will all be pupils in S4, S5, and S6 from schools and colleges in the South of Scotland.

It’s hoped the event will bring politics closer to their lives and provide tools to engage in further political discourse.

A Royal Society spokesperson said: “We want to provide young people with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the principles of democracy and citizenship through experience of critical and independent thinking and explore and evaluate different types of sources and evidence to become more politically literate.”