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Labour’s new Ribble Valley councillor making headlines for different reasons to his Strictly Come Dancing relative AJ Odudu
Lancashire student Aaron Wilkins-Odudu is making headlines for different reasons to his family relative, AJ Odudu, the Blackburn star of TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.
A-level student Aaron, 18, from Whalley near Clitheroe, has just been elected as a Labour councillor to Ribble Valley Borough Council. He could be the youngest councillor in Lancashire or the whole country.
His victory has come in sweeping changes in this month’s local elections. Ribble Valley Council has a new intake of Labour councillors – and others such as Greens – which is reshaping the Lancashire borough’s political scene. The new Labour group is understood to be the largest-ever number of Labour councillors elected at Ribble Valley Council since its creation in 1974.
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Labour’s rise came as the Conservatives lost a number of Ribble Valley seats and well-known councillors, cutting their traditional dominance. Labour, Lib-Dem, Greens and some other councillors could become a significant force against the Conservatives.
At home, Aaron’s family has followed TV presenter AJ Odudu’s success with excitement and pride. Now Aaron’s election as a borough councillor is creating further joy and anticipation.
In politics, Aaron has been inspired by range of political figures, especially a new generation of young Labour MPs. But he has other interests too. He’s a big music lover, an Abba and Taylor Swift fan, sings in a regional choir and also plays saxophone in a Clitheroe band. As a new councillor, Aaron is representing a ward in Whalley, called Nethertown. In just a few days, he and the other new councillors will make their debuts at the borough council chamber.
Growing up
Aaron is currently an A-level sixth form student at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. He started there in 2016, aged 11. Speaking about his family background, he said: “I was born in Warrington and lived in the St Helens area until I was seven. But my dad is originally from Blackburn and we moved to Whalley in 2011.”
His parents are Amanda and Peter Odudu. He also has a younger sister and brother, age 14 and seven. And TV presenter AJ Odudu is a family relative.
Aaron said: “AJ is my dad’s cousin. The two families grew up together in Blackburn, being two of the only black families. So we see each other at big family get-togethers and things like that. But AJ is very busy and in-demand, even more so since her Strictly success.
“We are all so proud of her because it takes a lot for a black, working-class, northern woman to get her foot in the door, as it were. Strictly was great too because the whole family used to meet every Saturday night at one of our houses. We’d all support her together. “
In his free time, Aaron loves music, playing and singing, and records. He said: “I sing in the Hallé Youth Choir and also play the saxophone. I played in the Clitheroe Royal Grammar School swing band throughout my time there. I also like going to concerts and listening to music at home. I have a particular love for ABBA. And I’ll be making a trip to Townsend Records in Clitheroe on July 7 to buy Taylor Swift’s Speak Now vinyls.”
Change of plans
Has being elected as a councillor changed Aaron’s plans for life after sixth-form and A-levels?
He said: “My plans have changed somewhat. I have a conditional offer at King’s College London to study philosophy, politics, and economics. But I am going to request to defer my place for at least a year to really immerse myself in the role of councillor. I also hope to find a part-time job , although I haven’t really looked yet. I think I’d like to just get my A-Levels out of the way first.
“I’m studying German, history, and politics and I also studied Spanish in lower-sixth. Politics is my favourite, which probably doesn’t come as a surprise. My two teachers are really well-informed and passionate. It has been a great experience, even if I can be a little outspoken at times.”
How has his sixth-form college at Clitheroe reacted to his election?
“By the time I got home from the election count on the Friday evening, I had had seven emails from teachers congratulating me. Everyone is just so supportive and they have all been really accommodating. I had to miss two lessons on the afternoon of the local election count, for example, but it hasn’t been a problem. The school has been extremely accommodating in relation to my interests.
“I was the Ribble Valley Youth Delegate to the Labour Conference ’22. That meant I was in Liverpool from a Saturday to a Wednesday. But school had no problem with this, on the condition that I made sure I wasn’t behind on work. By attending the conference, it meant I could actually experience politics for the first time rather than simply studying it in a classroom.”
Reaction to historic win
How have family, friends and neighbours’ react to Aaron being elected? Were they surprised? Shocked, Pleased? Worried? And how does it feel to stand for election and live in the Whalley ward he now represents?
Aaron said: “My family was pleased for me. They know just how passionate I am about politics. So they were over the moon that our neighbours and friends realise this too. I live in my ward which is lovely because I already know many of the residents and they know how they can contact me. I see my neighbours around a lot when walking our dog, Dolly – she’s named after the queen of country music.
“Because I have only recently turned 18, the local election was the first opportunity I had to vote. So going into the polling station for the first time and also voting for myself was an odd sensation, for sure. But it felt great when the results were declared.”
Motivations and influences
Does Aaron have any particular political interests or influences?
He said: “Social and economic justice are the two primary motivators for getting involved in politics. Things like reducing poverty, promoting local enterprise with secure and well-paid jobs will be high on my list of goals for my term, even if it’s only small changes that we can bring about. But the single biggest issue we face is the climate and nature emergency. So I will be trying as hard as I can to ensure Ribble Valley strengthens its commitments and makes more-ambitious pledges for net zero.
“In terms of influences, Zarah Sultana and Nadia Whittome [Coventry and Nottingham MPs) have been great inspirations to me. They are two of the youngest MPs in the Commons. But they also champion climate justice, progressive and inclusive social values, and are fighting for a fairer country.
“Slightly more locally, I think someone like Andy Burnham [Greater Manchester Mayor] has really had an impact on giving people optimism. That’s to say, he has such wide-reaching powers on a local level which mean the people of Greater Manchester don’t have to suffer because of policies made in Westminster.”
Winners and losers
How did Aaron feel his election win impacted on political rivals, such as former councillor David Berryman, who lost, and the Conservatives generally? David Berryman received 127 votes compared to Aaron’s 137 votes. An independent candidate, Katherine Lord-Green, also came close in third position with 125 votes.
Aaron said: “I think it was definitely a shock to the system, I don’t think Labour has ever won in Whalley and we now have the most Labour councillors on Ribble Valley Council that there has ever been.
“Naturally, David was disappointed. But I think the fact that people in my area have voted Labour for the first time goes to show that the status quo just won’t do. They want change. I met David first through his involvement in the Ribble Valley Climate Action Network, so I hope that we can still work together in this way.
What has the wider response been like in Whalley to his and Labour’s wider success?
Aaron said: “I hope people are pleased that there is better representation on the council than ever. I met a couple the other day who came up to me and congratulated me. After years of living here, it is the first time they had ever voted for a candidate who won.
‘Appetite for something new’
How does he describe the new Ribble Valley Labour group’s mood ahead of next week’s big annual council meeting?
He replied: “We are excited and optimistic. We hope that there will be a shift in policy so that the Ribble Valley, in our view, becomes a more equitable and sustainable place to live. We are going into the meeting with a collaborative mindset and the other opposition parties are doing the same. So hopefully this will show the Conservatives that there is big appetite for something new.”
Does he have any views on voter photo ID, which was required at the May 4 local elections? Critics claim the requirement made it harder to vote. Supporters say it was a simple and justified measure to stop voter fraud.
Aaron said: “I think the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg captured quite well the impact of the new, restrictive and unnecessary voter ID legislation. Although he was clearly trying to attack the Labour Party, he, perhaps accidentally, acknowledged that it is gerrymandering – an attempt to weaken the anti-Tory vote which is more likely not to have ID, whether that be amongst ethnic minority voters or other groups of voters. But it seemingly backfired and prevented a lot of older people from voting – older people who the Conservatives hoped would have supported them.
“I am fortunate to have a passport, which I used to confirm my identity. But I know lots of people don’t. I cannot get a driving licence because I have epilepsy, So for people in my position, if they not have a passport, it would have been difficult for them to exercise their democratic rights. “
Aaron and the other new Ribble Valley councillors will make their debut at the borough council’s annual meeting in Clitheroe on Tuesday, May 23, at 6pm.
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