A Birmingham teenager is aiming to become the youngest councillor in the UK.
Luke Holland, who just turned 18, is standing as an independent candidate in the Moseley and Kings Heath ward in the local elections on May 7.
It is not only his youth which marks his out from the others vying for the seat but four key pledges detailed on his website.
Firstly, he claims he’s “not in for the money” and if successful will give his entire £16,267 yearly councillor’s allowance to tackling poverty in the north of the ward.
Secondly, Luke, who set up an eco-green cleaning business when 17, will hold a clean-up once a month tackling dirty areas around the ward.
Thirdly, he says he will inspect every street once a month for maintenance issues and lastly, distribute a leaflet of all the work he’s done four times a year to households.
With help from his 20 strong team, he has been very busy out leafleting, attending hustings, doing interviews and meeting the people face to face or through social media.
Far from being dismissed as a young upstart, he has been winning people over with his policies.
“I’m what people want,” he said.
“When I speak to people, I change their minds.
“I’ve had a couple of people who used to be Labour come and leaflet for me. A couple of the other parties want me.
“Figues show 46 per cent of Birmingham is under 30 and we have a couple of councillors under 30. “
He said donating his allowance proves he is serious about his election bid and the issues affecting his city.
“That really defines me. 37 per cent of Brum’s kids live in poverty and that’s terrible and I’m saying I’m going to put my hand in my pocket to tackle deprivation. I don’t want to work in a city where there’s a divide.”
Other candidates standing in Kings Heath and Moseley:
Mike Friel - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Rashpal Mondair - UKIP
Martin Mullaney - Liberal Democrats
Elly Stanton - The Green Party
Martin Straker-Welds - Labour
Owen Vaughan - Conservative Party
