From paperboy to politician: Age is no barrier for Telford's new teenage councillor
A teenage politician who reckons he is the youngest councillor to ever hold a seat in his borough says he won't let his age get in the way of fighting for his home.
In May's election, Labour candidate Ollie Vickers turned Donnington red in one of the closest counts in the area's history.
In the end, just 14 votes separated the 19-year-old law student and his closest opposition, and Ollie set what is thought to be a new record as Telford & Wrekin's youngest-ever councillor.
But that doesn't phase the University of Birmingham student, who says his youth won't be a barrier to representing the area that raised him.
After a month in his new role, Ollie said: "It feels strange. There are not many people who are my age that are in politics.
"When you go along to Labour Party meetings or anything to do with the council, generally it's all older people.
"So it felt strange at first, almost as if I was an impostor, that I shouldn't really be there. But I've been supported really well by so many different people and made to feel comfortable straight away."
Ollie moved to Donnington aged seven, going on to attend Wrockwardine Wood Juniors and Burton Borough School.
Interested in politics from a young age, he remembers watching Ed Miliband's 2015 election campaign aged 11. In his early teens, he delivered papers to the residents he now represents.
"I had a paper round here as well, so when I was out on the campaign door knocking I'd speak to people and they'd say 'I recognise your face' and I would say 'that's because I used to be your paperboy!'
"It's really nice to have that connection in the place you're representing. You need it to truly understand it. Without it you don't really understand the problems that people here face.
"I can see in Donnington that people feel like they've been left behind, neglected and let down for a long time, I think the Tory Government has let a lot of places like Donnington down.
"I wanted to get involved, make a difference and represent the people in Donnington the best that I can."
Being a teenager in politics has not been smooth sailing - Ollie says his age has got him "stick" online and on doorsteps.
He explained: "I think a bit of backlash is only natural, anyone who puts themselves forward for public office knows they're going to get stick, I know I'm going to get stick.
"But when people attack me for my age I don't think people realise that I will fight just as hard for Donnington as anybody else would.
"I'm enthusiastic, I care a lot about Donnington and I live here. I really want to fight for Donnington and I'm not going let my age stop me."
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