Alexander Curtis
| Councillor Alexander Curtis | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Ware | |
|
In office 22 May 2017 – 21 May 2018 | |
| Deputy Mayor | Cllr Michael Standley |
| Preceded by | Cllr Jonathan Kaye |
| Succeeded by | Cllr David Oldridge |
| Ware Town Councillor | |
|
In office 7 May 2015 – Incumbent | |
| Votes | 1,291 |
| Succeeded by | Himself as Mayor |
| Constituency | Christchurch Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 January 1997 Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Education | BA Geography (ongoing) |
| Alma mater | St Catherine's College, Oxford |
| Known for | Youngest Mayor in Europe |
|
As of 15 April, 2018 Source: | |
Alexander Curtis (born 24 January 1997) is a British politician and student who was Mayor of Ware and Conservative Councillor for Christchurch Ward on Ware Town Council. Elected at the age of 20 in 2017, he is thought to be have been one of the youngest incumbent mayors in Europe, and the second-youngest mayor in modern British history.[1][2]
In addition, Curtis serves as Chairman of Hertford and Stortford Conservative Association, thus also sitting (ex officio) as the youngest member of the National Conservative Convention.[3]
Education
Curtis is currently reading for a Bachelor of Arts in Geography at St Catherine's College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, where he engages actively with student politics.[3] In the 2018 OUSU elections, he ran successfully for NUS delegate, after running successfully for Student Trustee in the 2017 elections.[4][5]
Politics
Curtis first became involved in politics in 2011, aged 14, when he became the founding chairman of Ware Youth Town Council.[2][6] He subsequently joined the local Conservative Party aged 15, gained the nomination for the vacant Christchurch Ward in the run-up to the 2015 town council elections aged 17, and was elected at age 18.[2]
He was subsequently elected to the position of mayor – a largely ceremonial role – by his fellow councillors (all Conservative) in 2017. Going beyond his ceremonial duties, Curtis publicly backed plans to transform the former Ware Town Hall from a shop into a wine bar.[7]
Controversies
In late March 2018, Curtis attracted controversy when he unilaterally announced via the official Ware Town Council Twitter account that a public meeting had been cancelled, on the day of that meeting.[8] This drew criticism from fellow councillors, particularly as he later announced on his personal account that he had travelled to Glasgow.[9] Curtis went on to claim that his decision to cancel the meeting was unrelated to his travels, instead citing delays in internal reporting as the cause for the cancellation. Fellow councillors called this "ridiculous", stating that meetings should only be cancelled in the case of a "major crisis".[10]
Members of the public who wished to attend the meeting also expressed their disappointment, as the cancellation prevented public input on the council's response to a local redevelopment consultation.[10] Seven members of the Council attempted to hold a public meeting regardless, but were forced to eject the press and public when it became apparent that no member of council staff was coming to take minutes. They were nonetheless able to conduct a private council meeting.[11]
On 9 April 2018, a selection of members of the Conservative group at Ware Town Council, who constitute the entirety of that council, met privately to withdraw the Conservative whip from Curtis, asserting that he now sits as an independent. However, this was confirmed not to be the case by the local Conservative Association, of which he is the Chair.[3][11]
Curtis alleges that this action was taken maliciously by fellow councillors in retaliation for his support of ongoing investigations against them. Several councillors who took part in the meeting have had Code of Conduct complaints made against them by council staff, including Cllr Jeannette Taylor, Cllr Rosalie Standley, and her husband, Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Standley.[10] The conflict was seized upon by members of the local opposition parties, the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who argued that the conflict had resulted in unnecessary expenditures of tax money.[10][11]
See also
- Local government in England
- Mhairi Black MP, the youngest member of the House of Commons, having been elected aged 20
- Ross Greer MSP, youngest member of the Scottish Parliament, having been elected aged 21
References
- ↑ "Town Mayor". Ware Town Council. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Meet one of Britain's youngest mayors". Hertfordshire Life. Archant Community Media. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Cllr. Alexander Curtis". Hertford & Stortford Conservatives. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ↑ Alexander Curtis | Candidate for Student Trustee (video). Oxford University Student Union. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ↑ "Annual Elections 2018". Oxford University Student Union. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ↑ "Youth Council". Ware Town Council. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ↑ Mohan-Hickson, Matthew. "Former Ware Town Hall could soon be transformed into a wine bar". Hertfordshire Mercury. Local World. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ↑ Alexander Curtis [@WareTownCouncil] (26 March 2018). "The Ware Town Council meeting tonight is cancelled" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 April 2018 – via Twitter.
- ↑ Alexander Curtis [@aja_curtis] (27 March 2018). "8 hours or so on 9 trains today" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 April 2018 – via Twitter.
- 1 2 3 4 Clugston, Harriet (29 March 2018). "Ware councillors in secret revolt after mayor's "shocking" decision to call off public meeting at last minute". Hertfordshire Mercury. Local World. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- 1 2 3 Clugston, Harriet (12 April 2018). "Attempt to eject Ware mayor from Conservative Party as row at town council intensifies". Hertfordshire Mercury. Local World. Retrieved 15 April 2018.