Youngest councillor found dead at only 21

Tributes have been paid to Britain’s youngest councillor following her death at the age of 21.

Clarissa Slade, who was just 18 when she was elected as a Conservative councillor for Mid Devon District Council in 2015, was found dead at her flat in Winchester on Monday.

Hampshire Police say the death of Miss Slade, a student at Winchester University, is being treated as “unexplained”.

Her father Colin Slade, also a Conservative councillor in Devon along with Miss Slade’s mother Elizabeth, said the family were “still pretty much in the dark” as to the circumstances.

Mr Slade told the Daily Telegraph: “It is such a shock. She was due to come back to visit and the first thing we knew was when she was not on the train.

“She had a bright future ahead, she was very keen on politics and she was a very bright young councillor, the youngest in the country when she was elected.

“She was looking to possibly pursue a career in politics.”

He added that the family was waiting for information from the coroner regarding the cause of Miss Slade’s death.

Miss Slade was offered a place to read classical studies in 2015.

She told the council at the time that she had “no intention” of resigning and that she “remained committed” to serving the people of her ward.

Stephen Walford, chief executive of Mid Devon District Council, said: “This is clearly a great shock to everyone at the council and will affect all those who worked with Clarissa and the community she served.

“Clarissa’s parents, who are both serving councillors here at Mid Devon, will be devastated by this news and we will be supporting them in any way we can.”

Clarissa Slade.