E-Paper
Britain's youngest councillor elected, age 18
An 18-year-old high school student wins a seat on his local authority becoming Britain's youngest municipal councillor.
Britain's youngest municipal councillor was elected on Friday when an 18-year-old high school student won a seat on his local authority.
The lowering of the minimum age limit from 21 to 18 meant William Lloyd was able to stand for the Conservative Party in Brentwood, 30 miles (48 kilometres) east of London.
Lloyd, who is studying politics, history, geography and travel and tourism at Brentwood County High School, defeated the sitting Liberal Democrat councillor to win a place on Brentwood Borough Council.
The teenager, who cites his political heroes as former British prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, is hoping to combine his duties as a councillor with study for a politics degree from September.
"Most councillors have full-time jobs and fulfil their duties at the same time so I don't think it will be a problem," he said.
About 10,500 seats were contested for 312 English councils on Thursday. Polls were also held for Scotland's 32 councils, plus the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.
