Kaukab Stewart is campaigning to be the SNP Member of Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Southside in this year’s election. She is currently the MSP for Glasgow Kelvin; however, due to a redrawing of the constituency’s boundaries, she is now running for Nicola Sturgeon’s seat after she announced that she was stepping down last year.
After 19 years of the Scottish National Party being in power, this year’s campaign has been difficult for the party despite leading in the polls, trying to show that they are still able to bring progress and acknowledge their mistakes in the past.
In response to her aims to succeed a symbol of the past 19 years of the SNP, Stewart said “you know you can appreciate and respect and value your predecessors’ work and then you can go on and do things your own. People usually say you’ve got big shoes to fill. I say I wear my own shoes”.
She has explained that she believes that there are faults in the SNP; however, the change that voters want to created can only come from Scottish independence. Stewart adds that in her view “the only way that we can improve is by having the full powers of independence, especially with things like fuel prices”.
Kaukab has been visiting local businesses, The Govanhill Baths, doorstepping and she is “cautiously optimistic” about her chances given the reception she has received from constituents. She is predicted to win with 32.8% in the Ballot Box polling.
“You have to be cautious because politics can change quickly. Things happen, but at the moment, I am getting good and constructive engagement on the doorstep. I am able to point out things that the SNP have done like freezing the rail fares, we got rid of the peak fares on trains, which was a big help to people who were travelling every single day. You know that’s money directly in their pockets.”
Stewart hopes to appeal to student voters by improving the economy and protecting free university tuition in Scotland. She reassures that “we’re protecting free education. I know that nothing is ever free; it is at a cost. However, it’s I see it as an investment in the future.”
“I know other parties have sort of said that, you know, we need to relook at that. But I’m passionately attached to free tuition. If I hadn’t had a free education, I would not be where I am. I would not have given twenty-nine years of my life to teaching and helped the hundreds and hundreds of kids that went through my hands”.
Stewart was the first woman of colour to be made an MSP and is now the Minister for Equalities. In response to Reform’s increased stirring of racial tensions in Scotland and their targeting of immigrants, Stewart believes people should remember that “migrants weren’t responsible for Brexit, migrants weren’t responsible for Covid, migrants weren’t responsible for Liz Truss’ disastrous economy budget”.
As the Minister for Equalities, Stewart was able to announce £300,000 in funding towards building strong and connected communities.
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