Exclusive:Learning about other cultures will tackle the rise of the far right, says new MSP

Yi-pei Chou Turvey is originally from Taiwan, but spent years growing up in Belgium with her artist parents.

She is now hoping she can bring her experiences of other cultures and good ideas from other countries to her work as a Lib Dem MSP for the North East.

She was sworn in as an MSP in three languages - English, French and Mandarin - to showcase her journey to Holyrood.

“I did that to show my story as someone who has travelled and come here with my skills,” she told The Scotsman. “I want to open people’s eyes to the world.

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“Having three languages means you can see the world and cultures differently. Balancing all that together can bring forward new, positive ideas.

“That creates a better society that is not closed off.

“Learning about other cultures and people is how you tackle fear. If you live in a community where the stranger is scary, it creates so much stigma and that becomes the norm.

“This is the only way to tackle the rise of the far right.”

Ms Chou Turvey says social media is fuelling this hatred towards people who are different, and said she has had to stop reading comments online because they are “full of hate”.

Having always had an interest in politics and now raising three children near Banchory, she is hoping her “big sister attitude” will serve her well in the Scottish Parliament.

She said: “It’s been overwhelming. If you blink then you miss it, so you have to be on top of your game.

“I’ve always been interested in politics, particularly international politics. I grew up in Taiwan and we moved to Belgium in 1989.

“My parents studied art and took their children to study at La Cambre, and then decided to stay put because they liked the education system.

“Back in Belgium I was never active in any party because I didn’t really like the system, but I got more involved when I moved to the UK with my husband.

“I like the UK system where you are really close to the people you are representing and if you don’t do a good job, you are out.

“I like connecting with people and being a voice for people, whether that was as a class rep in high school or now as an MSP. I’m the eldest of three, so I have ‘big sister attitude’.”

Having been an Aberdeenshire councillor for a number of years, Ms Chou Turvey wants to see better funding for local government from the Scottish Government as it is local authorities that “deal with people’s daily needs and daily struggles”.

She is also wanting to bring forward standards and new ideas that are working well in Taiwan and Belgium to Scotland.

Despite only being elected a few weeks ago, Ms Chou Turvey has already been appointed as the Scottish Lib Dems’ justice spokeswoman, and is hoping to get better funding in place to support “exhausted and overworked” police officers.

She is a fan of more community sentencing, as there is better technology on offer and due to research suggesting those who are allowed to stay closer to their families are able to get more involved in their communities.

Ms Chou Turvey also said politicians need to work together on finding a long-term solution for trans prisoners, as “their safety is as important”. This comes after new rules meant all trans prisoners had to be housed according to their biological sex.