FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday announced the SNP’s campaign team ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has been appointed campaign director, while SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie will oversee the development of the party’s manifesto.

Ms Sturgeon also said that Mhairi Black, currently the youngest MP in Westminster, will lead the campaign aimed at young people.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in the upcoming Holyrood elections, as a result of the voting age being lowered to 16 for the independence referendum.

Speaking on the anniversary of the referendum vote, Ms Sturgeon said she was “determined that the views and priorities of our young people — of Scotland’s next generation — will be at the very heart of this election.”

Ms Sturgeon insisted that the SNP led Scottish government had delivered better public services in the face of cuts from Westminster.

She said that her party, which is currently sellign off CalMac ferries, “will put before the people of this country a truly progressive policy programme to support our economy, create a fairer society and improve our public services.”