COUNTY NEWS: Sussex Game of Thrones actor to stand for election

An actor from the hit TV series, Game of Thrones, is standing as a candidate in upcoming county council elections in Sussex.
Sam Coleman, pictured third from left, with other Labour Party candidates for the May county council elections, Andy Batsford and Richard Sage, alongside party members Margaret Tippin and David Gee. Photo courtesy of Bexhill and Battle Labour PartySam Coleman, pictured third from left, with other Labour Party candidates for the May county council elections, Andy Batsford and Richard Sage, alongside party members Margaret Tippin and David Gee. Photo courtesy of Bexhill and Battle Labour Party
Sam Coleman, pictured third from left, with other Labour Party candidates for the May county council elections, Andy Batsford and Richard Sage, alongside party members Margaret Tippin and David Gee. Photo courtesy of Bexhill and Battle Labour Party

Sam Coleman, 20, who played the younger version of Hodor in the show, as well as the mentally disturbed Bud in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel, Leatherface (2016), hopes to become Labour councillor for the new Bexhill West ward.

Elections for East Sussex County Council take place in May.

Sam said: “I decided to get involved in politics because I realised that things would not change themselves.

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“As a young person, I have seen young people’s services, recreational businesses and activity centres close as a result of austerity driven cuts.

“Growing up as a young carer, I have witnessed first-hand the struggle disabled people have faced as a result of cuts. These issues drove me to investigate what I could do.

“I am not a politician. I am not in it for money or ambition. I just want to make a difference.

“If I am elected councillor of Bexhill West, my first move will be to sort out the parking problems, especially in Collington.

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“I will champion the development of more youth-friendly recreational businesses and centres.

“I also fully support Democracy4Bexhill’s campaign to get a town council installed in Bexhill and will do everything in my power to assist their movement.

“I am already in discussions with the team behind Bexhill Youth Council and with several schools and colleges in the area to re-engage young people in local politics and encourage them to take an active interest in their town.

“The Bexhill and Battle Labour party, like with many local branches in Sussex and around the UK, are a compassionate and honest group of wonderful people.

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“We are all united in the aim to make living standards better for everyone, no matter what their income or ability.”

Speaking about his Game of Thrones, Sam said he was ‘overjoyed’ when his agent told him he had an audition.

He said: “I was a massive fan of the show and I never thought I’d get the part but I did and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

“I was also humbled when Jack Bender, the director, asked me to make my character’s seizure as realistic as possible, giving me the opportunity to bring awareness of seizures to the wider public.

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“Several of my family members are epileptic and so I used my knowledge of epilepsy and other conditions to try and create something identifiable, despite its time-travelling, fantastical nature.”

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England recently published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for East Sussex County Council.

In it are three new wards for Bexhill - North, South and West.

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