Andrew Rushton our LDC candidate in Whittington & Streethay

We need more young people running for council, that's why I'm standing.

According to the Local Government Association, the average age of councillors in 2022 was 60 years old, only 16% were under the age of 45. This number spreads even thinner in the under-25's category where the number is only 1.2%. We have a serious problem with the lack of representation the young have in local democracy, and that is a major reason for my decision to run as the Lib Dem candidate for the Lichfield District Council in Whittington and Streethay and Leomansley in the City Council Election.

This year, alongside running, I'm finishing my studies at De Montfort University in Leicester, finalising my dissertation and on the search for graduate jobs. Being a young person and starting your future professional career is extremely challenging and time-consuming, making it even harder for many to commit to running for council and indeed being a councillor if successful.

I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I'm able to commit time to becoming a councillor, unlike many people my age. That's why I feel I should run to represent my residents and highlight the problems we face that other people may not. The serious lack of affordable homes in the Lichfield District makes it extremely hard for young people to get on the housing ladder here. Bus services are being cut back drastically, making it harder for those who don't drive - largely young people - to get quick access to places. Jobs for young professionals in and around Lichfield are sparse, resulting in many young graduates moving elsewhere.

I'm 21 and have grown up in Whittington for most of my life, going to both primary school and secondary school in the district. Whittington and Streethay is still represented by the same councillor since my time at primary school. I've experienced the neglect my ward has had over the years because our councillors have become too complacent. Last time round, Whittington and Streethay was uncontested. Only the Conservatives ran candidates meaning they won with no votes being cast. Unfortunately, I was too young to run in 2019, but this time round I felt it was important to give our residents a chance for change.

Over the past few months, I've been speaking to voters across my ward, and I've been overwhelmed by their support, with many applauding me for running at such a young age. The Liberal Democrats core message at this election is simply that we need more balance on the council, so that our residents can have a wide range of ideas offered to the council as well as more action and better delivery - and residents agree with this message. Residents are telling me that they will vote for me, regardless of their personal political affiliations, because they know they'll be voting for a councillor who can stand up for them all-year round and not just at election time.

Having a young person on council would be hugely beneficial. It's a voice for the students, whether under 18 or above. It's a voice for parents who are struggling to find spaces in their local primary schools because services are being neglected. It's a voice for the grandparents, who are seeing their grandchildren move away because there are no affordable homes nearby. Indeed, it's a voice for everyone, getting more jobs for young people around here to boost our local economy.

Hopefully in the future, we will see more young people stand for council, so that our democracy can be truly reflective of our city, and that we break the idea that only men of retirement age are elected.

For a better council and a hard-working and in touch councillor, I urge residents to vote for me and my colleague Liberal Democrats on 4th May .