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A Kilwinning teenager could become Britain’s youngest politician in 350 years if elected to the Houses of Parliament next month.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Rimicans is vying for a seat in Westminster – and success for the Labour candidate would make him one of the youngest MPs of all time.

SNP’s Mhairi Black took the title when she was elected in 2015, aged 20 – but the former St Matthew’s pupil would beat that record by some distance.

Christopher will fight for the North Ayrshire and Arran seat in the snap General Election on June 8.

The teen’s namesake, Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, was just 13 when he was elected as an MP in Devon in 1667.

Christopher hit the headlines in November 2015 after slamming Trident in a passionate speech at the Scottish Labour Party conference.

And at this year’s conference, he spoke in favour of Labour’s federalism proposals and gave an impassioned speech in support of Ardrossan retaining the Arran ferry.

Speaking after his selection, Christopher said: “It is a great honour to have been selected as the Labour candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran.

“North Ayrshire is my home and I am standing to give my family, friends and neighbours the strong voice that they deserve.

“Local people are being let down by an out of touch Tory Government and an SNP Government in Edinburgh more interested in stoking grievances than delivering change for the people.

“We badly need a Labour Government who will end austerity, deliver a £10 minimum wage and create an economy that works for working people.

“I am looking forward to the campaign, getting out there speaking to local people about their concerns and meeting the challenge of working for a Labour council and a Labour government that will stand up for local people.”

Christopher has lived in North Ayrshire his whole life and is now studying at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

The Labour hopeful also volunteers for many groups and last year won a volunteering award from The Ayrshire Community Trust.

He has been involved in projects such as collecting donations for the North Ayrshire Foodbank.

Christopher is currently on a seasonal contract with North Ayrshire Council as a sports coach and he is a piper with Johnstone Pipe Band and part of the teaching team at Irvine District Pipe Band.

Labour Group Leader Joe Cullinane added: “Christopher is talented, hard-working and committed to fighting for a fairer society.

“And he will be an excellent MP for our area.

“He has been campaigning across North Ayrshire for our council candidates over the last few months, as he has done for the Labour Party for years.

“I know that we are all looking forward to getting out on the doors to support Christopher, taking the positive message of what a Labour MP and Labour Government will do for our area.”

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