The Swale Independents are a local political party based in the borough of Swale. It was founded in 2018 by the former leader of UKIP on Swale Borough Council, Mike Baldock.[1][2][3]
Swale Independents | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Mike Baldock |
| Founded | 21 May 2018 |
| Headquarters | 24 Station Road, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7JS |
| Ideology | Localism |
| Colours | Orange Green |
| Slogan | "Putting Local People First" |
| Kent County Council | 1 / 81 |
| Swale Borough Council | 11 / 47 |
| Website | |
| www | |
They sit together with one independent on Swale Borough Council as "The Swale Independents Alliance".[4]
History
editAt the 2019 Swale Borough Council election, the party elected 10 councillors. After the election, a "rainbow coalition" of the Swale Independents, Labour, Liberal Democrats, independents, and the Greens, was formed. This ended 17 years of Conservative control of the council.[5][6][7]
In 2020, the party's leader, Mike Baldock, faced criticism for opposing new houses being built, despite being a landlord who owns three houses, and an acre of land, worth £1 million in total.[8]
At the 2021 Kent County Council election, Baldock won a seat, becoming the party's sole representative on the council.[9][10]
From April 2022 to May 2023, Baldock served as Swale Borough Council's leader.[11][12]
At the 2023 Swale Borough Council election, the party won 11 council seats.[13] Afterwards, they formed another coalition with Labour and the Greens.[14]
In December 2023, Baldock resigned as deputy leader of Swale Borough Council, after a disagreement with the Labour group. He returned to the role just two weeks later.[15][16]
In March 2024, Baldock was selected as the party's candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in the 2024 general election.[17] He came fourth with 7.9% of the vote.[18]
Principles
editThe party supports Swale Borough Council changing from a cabinet system to a committee structure. It opposes whipping and the prioritisation of partisan interests over local people.[19]
References
edit- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Councillor banned for three months". Kent Online. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Ltd, Hudson Berkley Reinhart. "Council leader accuses UKIP leader of disregarding confidentially". www.sittingbourne.me. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Your Councillors". services.swale.gov.uk. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Ltd, Hudson Berkley Reinhart. "Swale's biggest electoral shake up in decades promises to deliver significant changes". www.sittingbourne.me. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Another rainbow coalition on the cards for Swale". Kent Online. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "England local elections 2023: The rise of the independents". BBC News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Councillor with £1m of property accused of being a 'hypocrite'". Kent Online. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Tories maintain majority in Kent County Council elections". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Election results by party, 6 May 2021". democracy.kent.gov.uk. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Ltd, Hudson Berkley Reinhart. "Cllr Mike Baldock takes the helm at Swale Borough Council". www.sittingbourne.me. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Monthly meetings calendar - April 2022". ws.swale.gov.uk. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Election results by party, 4 May 2023". services.swale.gov.uk. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "As a Green councillor walked out one midsummer morning | LocalCouncils.co.uk". www.localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Deputy leader of council resigns". Kent Online. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Deputy council leader returns after resignation U-turn". Kent Online. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Long-standing councillor to stand to be Kent MP". Kent Online. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Sittingbourne and Sheppey - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Our Principles". Swale Independents Alliance. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
External links
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