Peterborough councillors aged 18 and 86 ‘learn from each other’

Two city politicians, who are among the youngest and oldest councillors in England, said they hoped to learn from each other and challenge attitudes in politics.

Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, who is 18, was elected to the city council in Peterborough in May.

She joined 86-year-old fellow Labour councillor Dr Alan Dowson, who is one of the longest-serving city politicians.

Three months into the job she said she was “excited” to be a role model to the next generation, while Dr Dowson said she was helping the city to “modernise”.

Ms Blakemore-Creedon attended her first political protest aged 12 and joined the Labour Party aged 14.

She was preparing to sit her A-levels when she was elected and believes her age gives her a “different perspective”.

“Getting more opportunities for children and breaking down barriers to those opportunities is very important to me,” she said.

The councillor for Fletton and Woodston said not all her friends were pleased about it.

“Being a public figure means I can’t go out partying like a lot of 18-year-olds do because there’s a lot of responsibility and I have to represent the ward appropriately,” she said.

She said she had been labelled as the “baby” of the group and some had questioned her experience.

“I’m my own woman. I’m here in my own right. I grew up in a council house and I watched my mum use a food bank, all of those aspects mean I have knowledge of the world that other people might not have,” she added.

Ms Blakemore-Creedon would like to see more action to protect women in politics.

“When I walk down a street I can’t campaign by myself, when a lot of male councillors can. It is just not safe for a young female to a campaign on her own.”

Dr Alan Dowson said: “It’s fantastic. I’m learning from Daisy, and Daisy is learning a little bit from me.”

He was the first councillor to rebel against wearing robes in the council chamber when he arrived in 1971.

“I hope we’ll have more progress. Peterborough needs to modernise and having Daisy I think we’ve gone a step in the right direction,” he added.

Ms Blakemore-Creedon is now taking a gap year but hopes to study medicine in the future.

“The future has got a lot to bring and the more young people we get involved in politics it can make for a better society.”