Mhairi Black makes NME’s People of the Year list

THE UK’s youngest MP said it was “surreal” to be hailed as a person of the year by a popular music magazine alongside Taylor Swift.

Mhairi Black has been named in NME's People of the Year list for 2015. Picture: Getty Images

Mhairi Black, the 21-year-old SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, was selected for NME’s culture list because “politicians aren’t meant to look like” her.

The magazine praised the former chip shop worker for not being another “careerist who normally clog up the Commons”.

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It also praised her for becoming the youngest MP since 1667 and lauded her maiden speech to the House of Commons.The speech went viral around the world when Miss Black made “an eloquent, impassioned case against Tory austerity”.

The magazine concluded that because she felt “fundamentally uncomfortable” in Westminster, that she “deserves to be there” as an “atypical politician”.

Miss Black said it was “surreal” to be selected, but added that she had always hoped to have been chosen for her “musical abilities”.

She said: “Growing up I had always hoped I might end up in NME for my musical abilities, so it’s quite a shock to be in it for politics.

“It’s truly surreal seeing your name beside people like Adele and Taylor Swift, and it is also an honour. I’m consistently amazed so many people are supportive and choose to recognise me.”