Elmbridge’s youngest ever councillor, Rowan Cole, has taken down from a Facebook page he created declaring his intentions to run as an MP at the next general election, after putting it online by accident and attracting early supporters.

We called Coun Cole, 21, who has just finished his first year at Surrey University, after a Facebook user claimed they were invited to join his supporters’ page on Sunday, June 21.

The page declared the Tory councillor was “currently running for office” as Conservative party parliamentary candidate (PPC) in the Esher and Walton constituency.

The Esher and Walton Conservative Association is looking for a new PPC, after Ian Taylor MP announced last week he would be standing down before the next election, a position he has held in since 1987.

The association has yet to start advertising for the role.

Coun Cole, who represents the Walton ward at Elmbridge Council, said the inclusion of his intention to be voted as the next Tory PPC for the constituency had been “an error” on his part as he did not realise he had “clicked publish” on Sunday when creating the page.

He said he had been surprised to find he had 11 people supporting his page on Monday morning, even though the Facebook user who contacted the Elmbridge Guardian claimed the invitation they received on Sunday had definitely come from Coun Cole.

While on the phone to the Elmbridge Guardian, Coun Cole took down from the page any mention of running for office as a PPC.

However, the page still states that Coun Cole is “working for Esher and Walton”, despite the fact he only represents Walton as a councillor.

While Coun Cole has yet to officially declare his proposal to be nominated as PPC for Esher and Walton, he said despite his young age he would be a good choice as the area’s MP.

He said: “I’d argue that Parliament is supposed to be representative of the people. Age and experience are important, but so is making sure all areas of the country are represented.

“I want to give people the option to vote for a different style of candidate.”

He admitted there was still a few “administration hoops I have to jump through first” before he could make an official announcement.

If Coun Cole was to become the PPC, as the constituency is a “safe seat” for the Conservatives, it is likely he would become the youngest MP in Parliament.

Is 21 too young to run? Tell us at elmbridgeguardian.co.uk