People often ask me how old I am. This is because they think I look extremely world weary, or perhaps they cannot believe just how good looking I am for my age.  I fear it may be the former!

Age brings a number of benefits including experience of life with all its ups and downs. It does not always bring common sense, but age and experience is valued. Many of us feel re-assured when we see the 50 year old, slightly grey haired airline pilot taking his seat to fly our holiday jet, but much less confident if we see a 25 year old with his Captains hat on at a jaunty angle sauntering into the cockpit. No matter that the younger person may be a much more competent pilot, it is our perception that age always matters in these things.

In a similar vein Councillors are expected to have age and gravitas.  “How can you possibly have young people as Councillors when they have so little experience of life? was a comment I often heard during the recent election campaign.  I cannot accept that view because if we are to have a Council of all the talents, then we really do have to include young people, playing their full part.

How can we develop polices for the future when our prejudices effectively exclude young people from standing for elective office.  Why is it o.k. that we send 18 year olds to Iraq & Afghanistan to die for their country,  but we baulk at electing a young person, back home in Stockport to represent us?

As Conservatives we believe in talented people of all ages.  At the next general election we have two outstanding Parliamentary candidates in Ben Jeffreys for Cheadle and Annesley Abercorn for Hazel Grove. These talented young Conservatives, if elected, will be a great asset for our area for years to come with their energy , enthusiasm and drive.  With them we can build a new future.

Our current Council has an age range from 26 to 90 – sounds good, but only 2 Councillors are below the age of 35, many of the rest are considerably older.  It is maybe time to redress the balance and bring forward more young people into all the political parties, giving us a fresh vision and impetus for Stockport.  We need young people to compliment the greybeards and be part of a new Stockport that is prosperous, forward looking and an exciting place to live.

Cllr Syd Lloyd
Bredbury Green & Romiley

This article, by Cllr Syd Lloyd, was first published by the Stockport Express 06/08/08.