I’m a councillor, get me out of here!

Cllr Stephen Flannery

From Monday 4 October pupils from schools across Southwark will be putting five councillors through their paces as part of a campaign to get more people involved in local politics.

'I'm a councillor, get me out of here' is being launched in the run up to Local Democracy Week (18-24 October). It will give young people the chance to fire tough questions at councillors before voting for their favourite. Councillors with the fewest votes will be evicted, just like the TV show.

Voting and evictions in the non party political competition will take place over the next few weeks, with a final winner being announced on 22 October. The winning councillor will receive a PC to donate to a youth organisation of their choice.

Council leader Cllr Nick Stanton, who represents Riverside ward alongside Flannery, said: "Young people today are the voters of tomorrow, which is why it's so important that they get a chance to engage in local politics and have their say. Southwark has a particularly large young population, and we hope that this campaign will encourage more of them to get involved."

The event is part of Local Democracy Week 2004, which focuses on young people and their relationship with local government. Around 300 local authorities are expected to take part and organise activities and events across the country. 'I'm a councillor, get me out of here' is one of the events being run by many councils across the country.