The councillors keeping politics in the family

It is common for children to follow in their parents' career footsteps, but for one family it is the other way round.

Alan and Jacqueline Hunt said they had been inspired to stand for election after their son and daughter became councillors.

Nathan Hunt has been a Liberal Democrat councillor since 2022. His sister, Georgie, has served as a Green Party town councillor.

Nathan was re-elected to Huntingdonshire District Council on 7 May, when Alan and Jacqueline were also elected.

In neighbouring South Cambridgeshire, no fewer than three sets of parents and children were victorious.

Nathan, Alan and Jacqueline Hunt were elected for the Liberal Democrats in the Huntingdon East and St Neots Eatons wards.

Georgie stood for the Green Party in the Huntingdon North ward, but did not win.

"I think, fundamentally, I may wear a different rosette to my family, [but] we all stand for doing what is best for St Neots and Huntingdon," she said.

"My parents have always taught me you can leave the community better off than you found it, and there is nothing better than that, really."

Nathan and Georgie share a flat. Half the windows had Green Party posters, the other half had Liberal Democrat displays.

"You can definitely tell which flat is ours," they said.

Alan Hunt said: "It was quite refreshing for parents to follow in their children's political footsteps."

Jacqueline Hunt said that although they had always talked about politics as a family, their children had "brought us along to where we are today".

Over in South Cambridgeshire, John Batchelor and his son, Henry, have both been Liberal Democrat district councillors for years.

John was first elected in 1998, Henry in 2014.

"I'm very proud of him," John said, after their latest election victory.

"He's also a county councillor and holds down a job, I certainly couldn't do it."

Henry said his father had inspired him to get involved in local politics.

"Having seen all the good work that my dad and the local Liberal Democrat team had been doing, it showed me you can make a difference and change things for the better."

On working together, he said knowing each other so well had made "the job a lot easier".

He did admit, though, that they occasionally had disagreements, although "not in public".

Natalie Warren-Green became a South Cambridgeshire district councillor in 2022, representing the Liberal Democrats in the Longstanton ward.

This year, her daughter Yasmin Deter joined her, representing the same party in the neighbouring ward of Cottenham.

She says her mum was very active in the local community and "seeing how she can make changes really inspired me".

Yasmin was also elected to Cambridgeshire County Council in 2025.

At the time, her mum had asked if she had been "really sure" she wanted to do it, because of the commitment needed.

But Yasmin said she had "been really encouraging", supporting her by leafleting and putting up boards.

Natalie said she was "really excited" about working with her daughter, who was already doing "a great job" as a county councillor.

Martin Cahn was first elected in 2018 for the Liberal Democrats.

He says he was "very anti-Brexit", his biggest reason for joining the party.

"My father was a refugee from Germany and I spent a lot of time living in Europe and my wife is Polish."

Four years later, his son, Ariel, was encouraged to stand.

"I was pushed into it by my parents," Ariel said.

He says he has not regretted his decision and was excited to be re-elected alongside his father.

He says they "occasionally disagree on planning".

"Planning is supposed to be non political," said Martin. "So we can do that without it being a crisis."

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.