JAKE Lewis celebrated his 18th  birthday earlier this month with a party – the Labour Party. 

Now he is campaigning to be elected to Gloucestershire County Council for the party at the election on May 4. 

If he is successful he would be the youngest county councillor in Gloucestershire – and would bring the average down by quite some margin. 

He is standing in the Sedbury division which extends from Beachley to Redbrook and Alvington and  currently has a Conservative councillor. 

Jake, who lives in Sedbury, said: “This community has done a lot for me and I want to give something back.  

“In my view there is a lot that can be done for this community. I want to do my best for this community, older people, younger people, working and unemployed – everybody. 

“I know that people here are not listened to compared with other parts of the Forest and Gloucester.  

I know that people are not sure about services can be provided because they are so close to the border  and I know there are not enough youth services in this area. 

“I’ve experienced all that and I’m angry about it so I want to make a difference. 

“That is why an 18-year-old is going for council when the average age of a councillor in this country is 60 is important. 

“People under the age of 50 are hardly represented let alone those who are 20 or 25. 

“The fact I’m young is a bonus, not a negative.” 

Jake is currently in the sixth form at Chepstow School studying politics and business studies and he joined the Labour Party as soon as he was able at the age of 16. 

“Politics affects everybody, so I want to be involved to make a difference. It is the engine that drives change. 

“I don’t want to just follow the party line I want to work with and for the community and I have the spirit and energy for that. 

“I want to leave a positive mark for people.”

•Nearly 67,000 polling cards have been sent out by the Forest of Dean Council – if you have not received your poll card by Friday (March 31), contact the council’s elections team on 01594 812692 as you may not be registered to vote.

You can register to vote at any time, but the deadlines for registration ahead of the county council elections are: Last date for registration – Thursday, April 13.

Last date for postal vote applications – Tuesday, April 18 by 5pm.

Last date for proxy vote applications – Tuesday, April 25 by 5pm.

The names of all candidates will be available from Wednesday, April 5.