Total Politics 2010 Election Map

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Councils may be dominated by the over-50s, but there are also those in their teens and 20s who defy the stereotype and enter local government. Ben Duckworth finds out what makes them do it

 

 

 

The average age of a councillor in England is 58.8 years. Paul Holmes is 20. He has been a councillor since May 2008 and is now responsible for Southampton's 85 schools. He gets called the city's education boss by the local press.

 

Holmes has just collected his politics and international relations degree but, instead of joining the hunt for a career like his peers, he is now in public office. Holmes was at Southampton University with his friend and fellow councillor Ben Walker. They were involved in the local Conservative Party while there. Walker says he and Holmes "thought standing would be a good experience. We were interested to see that side of the electoral process and see our names on the ballot paper". Actually winning in their wards was "a bit of a shocking result".

 

Up in York, James Alexander stood in the May 2007 local elections for Labour at the age of 25 because: "I wanted to get into some form of elected offi ce and show that young people can actually make a difference."

 

Even though these councillors are often not old enough to rent a car, many have prior involvement in politics. Alexander helped out at the 2006 local election in his home city of London. Jenni Clutten, a 20-year-old councillor in Lewisham, south east London has "wanted to go into politics as long as I can remember". She has been a member of the Lib Dems since 2005, which she describes as a long time.

 

The experience youngsters can amass in such a short time is impressive. Cllr Kirsty West represents Aberdeen's Hilton/Stockwill Ward. Now 23, she has been a councillor for over two years, having joined the SNP at 14. She says: "Things go out of control. I tend to be a chronic volunteer. Someone said to me: 'Do you want to be secretary of the branch?' I thought yeah, I'd like to do that. It was good fun. So when someone said to me: 'Do you want to be organiser for the constituency?' I thought yeah I can do that."

 

Before election, the "chronic volunteer" had worked as an election agent for the SNP's parliamentary candidate in the city. West wasn't even the youngest Scottish councillor elected that night in 2007. Her brother John, only 18, had that distinction.

 

However, it's not just political obsessives who decide to stand at this age. Jon-Paul Howarth, who became a councillor in Grimbsy for North East Lincolnshire Council at 20, had no background in politics; family or otherwise. He started attending residents' meetings in the deprived ward he lived in and realised that standing for election was a way to make a difference to his area. He explains: "I've lived in this ward all my life. When people see someone they know, they're much more likely to vote."

 

All the councillors spoken to were effusive in their praise of helpful staff, and the council mentoring schemes designed to introduce newly elected members to their roles. That doesn't stop the nerves when standing up at full council meetings for the fi rst time.

 

Young councillors often stand out because they are so different from their colleagues. The nearest councillor in age to Jon-Paul Howarth is, he says, 45 to 50. James Alexander's closest party colleague is his Labour group leader, who is in his early 40s. However, not all young councillors are in the same situation. Councillors Paul Holmes and Ben Walker in Southampton have several colleagues under the age of 27. They link this trend to the city's university, which has a long history of producing politicians, such as John Denham, the current Communities and Local Government Secretary.

 

Is it hard work gaining the respect of residents and fellow councillors? Alexander says: "The only baggage I have is that I don't speak with a Yorkshire accent, so I had to make sure that people understood I knew what was happening locally."

 

He admits his age (27) has caused him some difficulties: "When I have been on surgeries with two fellow councillors who are older women, a lot of people would talk to them and then look to you as if you were the assistant taking notes."

 

Cllr Clutten says "one councillor in particular who is incredibly patronising to me and says things like 'I teach people your age'". The four young councillors in Aberdeen, of which Kirsty West is one, were initially called the Young Ones because they were all under 30. Now West says: "It is not an issue anymore because we have been here for two years; we have shown we can learn really quickly and know what we're talking about."

 

For those like Ben Walker and Paul Holmes, who have just left university and suddenly find themselves serving on council committees, and even cabinets, outside work has yet to materialise. Holmes outlines his plans: "I'm going to stick to the council and learn the new portfolio for the next six months. I'll get a part-time job, I don't know what in yet, but I'm very aware that we don't want to be career politicians". He does, however, believe that it is an advantage to initially focus full-time on the council after election. He says. "The more time you can spend, particularly when you're new and just trying to bed in, investigating everything and meeting the right officers; that's very important."

 

Jenni Clutten studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, but believes the balance of student life and public service has benefited her. She says: "It has had a positive impact on my life and studies as I have had to knuckle down more."

 

Councillor Alexander is even busier. He works full-time at York St John University, and in addition to his council duties is also the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for the new, doughnut-shaped York Outer seat. He says: "I am lucky that the committees I'm on all meet at roughly fi ve o'clock. My employment is not too far away. My employers are very lenient with me and they know if I have a council meeting I will come back and make up the time."

 

Council allowances appear generous for someone in their early 20s, although it is hardly 9-to-5 work. There was a perception among the councillors Total Politics spoke to that they earn far less than their friends outside politics. Alexander might receive a full-time income plus additional council allowances but: "If you look at it and say: 'Right, what could I do, could I get a job after university for £25,000 or could I be a councillor for £7,000, or £11,000 with special responsibility allowances?', it does pose a diffi cult choice for young people and I think that is partly why there are fewer of us."

 

As a student, Clutten has been able to use her annual council allowance of £10,000 to concentrate on casework rather than get a summer job. She says: "If you look from the outside at how much an average councillor spends, it works out less than the minimum wage. It isn't a huge amount, but for me as a student it is a large sum, as I can save money and it allows me to do that bit extra [of council work]."

 

If young politicians generally, from councillors to Tony Blair, find one particular obstacle in their paths through political life, it is dealing with the frustration of not being able to enact change. Paul Holmes summed it up when he said it was the time it takes to get things done in local government that proved most disappointing.

 

Discontentment can lead young politicians, who haven't yet developed deep ties to one party, on eventful political journeys. Jon-Paul Howarth was elected as a Lib Dem. After a falling-out over budget setting he defected to Labour, a decision he now sees as "naïve". All did not smell of roses for Howarth in the Labour group. He says: "Differences of opinion started again. Many were interested in their own careers rather than the residents they represent. I left Labour after I voted against a whip. They asked me if I would do that again and I said yes." Now a sitting independent, Howarth is back concentrating on his ward, "that's my priority".

 

There are also the hugely satisfying moments that make the long hours, low income and difficult casework all worth it. Paul Holmes says his proudest achievement is "helping 180 orphans and children in care to get free internet access in their homes and giving them free laptops to improve their learning".

 

But if it is all worth it, has the experience lit a fire under ambitions to stand for election on the national stage? Or, does the local element of council work mean that loyalty to a ward overcomes all ambition for greater things among young councillors? The answers are mixed. As a PPC, Alexander is unequivocal about aiming for Parliament. He says: "I won't deny that I'd like to do better, go further and all the rest of it."

 

On the other hand, West has no plans to enter Parliament "purely because of all the travelling". She continues: "I really enjoy being a councillor in Aberdeen and seeing my constituents every day. If someone phones me up on an issue in my ward, I can toddle off and have a look."

 

All the young councillors were enthusiastic for others in their age group to consider local government. Ben Walker describes it as: "a rollercoaster, but these opportunities are open to all young people, and anyone interested in politics." He adds: "It's about having the courage of your convictions and seizing those opportunities."

 

But what about life away from politics? Do young councillors feel they are missing out on just living life in their teens and 20s? Alexander articulates the thoughts of most of the young councillors when he says: "I made my choice. People trust in me to be in elected offi ce and represent them and that is one of the things I will continue to do - and I enjoy it". Young councillors will continue to get branded as careerists but it is easy to overlook the sacrifices they've made to serve in public office. And despite the difficulties and the time commitments, it's clear that they all simply enjoy being a councillor.