Borders Party Explained

Country:Scotland
The Borders Party
Leader:Frances Pringle
Secretary General:Jim Smith
Dissolution:2020
Headquarters:North Lodge
Torwoodlee
Galashiels
TD1 2NE[1]
Affiliation1 Title:UK Local Government affiliation
Colours:Purple
Colorcode:
  1. 6A2C91
Seats1 Title:Scottish Borders Council

The Borders Party was a political party involved in local government in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.[2] The party returned two councillors to the Scottish Borders Council in 2007 and again in 2012.

History

In April 2006, Save Scott's Countryside (SSC), a campaign group opposed to the Borders Railway and a local housing development, announced their intention to field candidates at the upcoming election.[3] The party was launched in October 2006.[4] At their launch their stated ambitions were around local government becoming more responsive to community need.[4] The party remained opposed to the rail link to Edinburgh and in favour of regionalism.[5]

The Borders Party contested the 2007 Scottish Borders Council election and returned two councillors.[6]

The party also contested each ward in the 2012 Scottish Borders Council election[7] returning Sandy Aitchison and Nicholas Watson to their respective wards for a second term. The two councillors joined a coalition administration as independents.[8]

In August 2012, Borders Party Cllr Nicholas Watson announced he would be leaving the area to pursue employment in Cumbria.[9] He resigned his seat on the Council the following February.[10] The by-election for the Leaderdale and Melrose ward was won by Iain Gillespie, also of the Borders Party, on 2 May 2013.[11] Frances Pringle took over as leader.[12]

The Borders Party were part of the Independent group on the council.[13]

At the 2017 local elections Gillespie and Aitchison stood as independent candidates.[14]

The party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission in November 2020.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: View registration - The Electoral Commission. search.electoralcommission.org.uk. 14 April 2019.
  2. http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP660 View registration Borders Party
  3. News: Campaigners to seek council seats . . 18 April 2006.
  4. News: New party set for official launch . BBC News . 16 October 2006.
  5. News: Borders faces its own North-South divide . The Scotsman . 7 April 2012 . 10 August 2016.
  6. News: Independents suffer heavy losses . BBC News . 4 May 2007.
  7. News: Borders Party reveals May election line-up . The Southern Reporter . 13 January 2012 . 10 August 2016.
  8. News: New coalition to run Scottish Borders Council after governing deal struck . . 12 May 2012 . 10 August 2016.
  9. News: Borders Party leader Nicholas Watson to step down . BBC News . 30 August 2012.
  10. News: Borders Party councillor resigns from SBC . Peebleshire News . 1 February 2013 . 13 July 2016.
  11. News: Borders Party's Iain Gillespie wins Leaderdale and Melrose by-election . BBC News . 3 May 2013.
  12. News: Pye stands for the Borders Party . Peebleshire News . 20 August 2013 . 10 August 2016.
  13. Web site: Councillors by Party: Borders Party member of the Independent group . Scottish Borders Council . 13 July 2016.
  14. News: Candidates announced for May's local government elections . Callum . Hodgson . Border Telegraph . 29 March 2017. 5 May 2017.
  15. Web site: View registration - the Electoral Commission.