Councillor Joe, 19 to support change

A 19-year-old has been elected as a parish councillor in Bath and North East Somerset, making him one of the youngest in the country.

Joe Fox, is a student at the University of the West of England studying politics and international relations and was elected as the new parish councillor for Whitchurch Village in Bath and North East Somerset on April 7.

Mr Fox, who lives in Stockwood with his family while studying, said he hopes to be able to show young people that their opinions matter.

He competed against two other candidates and there was a threeway tie with each candidate receiving three votes.

After some deliberations, Mr Fox was declared the overall winner and his term ends in May 2023.

He said: “I am really pleased. I think I must be one of the youngest parish councillors ever.

“I wanted to get involved in the first layer of democracy, it’s under-appreciated in that respect. Young people want to create changes, and I want to help that happen.

“I think that the most notable changes are the ones done to the local community, it is the small things that count.”

Mr Fox said he has always been interested in politics and how people can use the institution for change.

He added: “I am going to try and get more youth engagement on matters that they hold dearest and show them change is possible.”

The 19-year-old went on to say that he is looking forward to making improvements to the play park and cemetery that the parish council is responsible for.

He added that his long-term career goal would involve politics

Young people want to create changes, and I want to help that happen.

Councillor Joe Fox

in some nature but he hasn’t made up his mind about what sort of political career he’d like to pursue.