A politics student could become the country’s youngest MP after being selected to contest a seat for Labour in next year’s general election.

Solomon Curtis, 18, will combine his studies at the University of Sussex with canvassing in the East Sussex constituency of Wealden.

But the teenager admits he is unlikely to have to choose between Parliament and his studies as the rural area is a safe Conservative seat. The current MP, Charles Hendry, had a majority of more than 17,000 at the last election.

However, Mr Curtis said his degree has already taught him “a lot about issues in politics, and how policies really relate to the public”.

He said: “The British political history course has been really influential in shaping my campaign.

“With the 2015 election 70 years on from the Attlee government of 1945, which led to the creation of the NHS, I am keener than ever to recapture the mood of optimism, hope and aspiration.”

Mr Curtis has said he is “very excited about being selected” and has assured the voters of Wealden that he will do his “very best”.