Gay man becomes Britain’s youngest mayor

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A 23-year-old gay man has been elected Britain’s youngest mayor.

Ian Campbell, a Labour councillor, was elected mayor of Retford, Nottinghamshire, last month.

He was only recently elected a councillor for East Retford West, which he won by 15 votes.

Mr Campbell became known as a local gay activist after his family threw him out over his sexual orientation. He was homeless for eight months.

In 2009, he was named Nottingham’s Young Person of the Year for his work tackling homophobic bullying.

Mr Campbell told the Retford Times: “Everything has come along so quickly. It’s astonishing.

“I think I will be able to balance the roles perfectly well.

“In fact, being the mayor will only enhance the way I represent my ward.”

Mr Campbell added his life had changed dramatically in the last 12 months.

He said: “I never thought in a million years that I would be in this position.

“Everything is the opposite to what it was a year ago. I had no job, no place to call my own and now it is very, very different.”

Mr Campbell believes he is Britain’s youngest mayor and Retford’s first gay mayor.

He will be installed as mayor in a ceremony tomorrow at midday.

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