Angus’s youngest councillor is hoping his election can encourage more young people to consider a career in politics.
Ben Lawrie, 22, was elected after juggling his campaigning with his studies for his International Relations exams at St Andrews University.
Mr Lawrie, who represents Monifieth and Sidlaw for the Lib Dems, said the balancing act helped him understand why so few students are involved in politics.
“Balancing a campaign with studying takes a lot of time and effort and it was very difficult,” he said.
“It helped me to understand why not that many students are involved in politics.
“That only motivated me to get stuck in even more because someone has to represent us.
“In politics you get out what you put in.
“You can run a campaign putting in the minimum effort but when you’re in a small party who’s in last place in your area, the minimum effort won’t get you elected.
“We hit the ground running with the campaign about September last year and I often forgot I was even at university with the amount of time and effort I put into the campaign.”
Mr Lawrie, a former Dundee College student, managed to pass both of his exams despite not being able to find the time to study after being elected.
“I’m hoping that my studies and my work on the council will be mutually beneficial and I’ve been choosing roles on the council where my studies will help me,” he said.
“For example, I’ll be chairing the East of Scotland European Consortium which will give me the opportunity to put my passion for European politics and my knowledge of international issues into practice at a time where a strong voice for our area will be of the utmost importance during the impending Brexit negotiations.”
Mr Lawrie said the reaction of his fellow students since he was elected has been “quite funny”.
He said: “I keep joking and telling my friends they have to refer to me as Councillor Lawrie now!
“They tell me it’s so weird that someone they know so well, who’s just a normal guy that they hang out with and go for drinks with is an elected official.
“In a way I think it’s a bit of a shame that we’re so shocked when someone we know is elected.
“I think people see clips of politicians in the House of Commons and it seems like a different world — we never think that people like us can do it.
“I hope that by getting elected, I’ve shown other people my age that politics is for everyone.
“If I can do it, so can anyone!”
