A TEENAGE Liberal Democrat candidate gained almost 400 votes when he stood in the Farnham Bourne ward at last week’s local election.

Not only did he stand for Farnham Town Council, but he also put himself forward as a Waverley Borough Council candidate, again for the Farnham Bourne ward, winning 380 votes.

Cosmo Lupton, a 19-year-old who has lived in Farnham for the past nine years, stood at both town and borough level alongside his mum Rosamund Lupton, who also stood as a Lib Dem in the Farnham Wrecclesham and Rowledge ward, although neither was elected.

It was Cosmo who “badgered” his mum into running.

As the youngest candidate to stand, Cosmo thought it was “potentially really important” to offer a perspective from a younger person.

He told the Herald: “Local government obviously is dominated by quite a narrow portion of the population – most local councillors are pretty old and from particular backgrounds so I think it’s good to have that wide variety of voices getting involved in local politics.”

Cosmo had been out and about door knocking and talking to young people in the run-up to last Thursday’s election, discussing and explaining issues he felt important and sharing an understanding of their concerns – for example, getting on the housing ladder in Waverley.

“This comes across better from one young person to another,” he said.

Cosmo said he’d seen posts on Facebook group Farnham Rants saying it was “great to see a young person standing, I think I may go and vote for him”, which he said was “lovely”.

He also had friends and fellow school pupils messaging him to say they had voted for the first time or had voted Lib Dem following his campaigning, which was “really positive”.

Cosmo said: “I think the Liberal Democrats message locally is one that worked really well with young people. I think it was addressing those concerns and recognising we need to represent everyone in our community, including young people, not just those who traditionally turn out in local elections and vote.

“I chose to stand because I think local government can make a really immensely positive impact in people’s lives and their day-to-day lives.

“I guess, as a liberal, part of my philosophy is to give people as much control over their own lives as possible and I think really good local government is one of the best ways to do that.”

Cosmo also wanted to serve the community and stand up for things he felt would be “right for our area”.

After the declaration of his ward at the towns and parishes count on Saturday, Cosmo said he was happy with how the day had gone, adding the results were “fabulous” and “unexpectedly good”.

And of receiving 389 votes himself, he was “humbled” that so many people voted for him and trusted him.

As he gets set to head off to the University of Cambridge to study sociology and politics in October, Cosmo said he hoped to continue being involved in politics – and is considering standing at the next local elections.