Canvey Island Independent Party Explained

Canvey Island Independent Party
Leader:David Blackwell
Foundation:22 April 2004
Ideology:Localism
Separate local council for Canvey Island[1]
Headquarters:96 Central Avenue
Canvey Island
Essex
Country:the United Kingdom
Leader1 Title:Treasurer
Leader1 Name:Michael John Fuller
Leader2 Title:Nominating Officer
Leader2 Name:Robert James Ford
Seats1 Title:Castle Point Borough Council
Seats2 Title:Essex County Council

The Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) is a local political party active on Canvey Island, in Essex, England.[2] It was established in 2004 to campaign for a separate district council for Canvey Island.

Background

Canvey Island became a single civil parish in 1881, replacing 17 former divisions that had existed in broadly the same form since the Norman era.[3] In 1926, the parish was converted to the Canvey Island Urban District, which governed the island as a distinct entity. The urban district was dissolved along with the mainland Benfleet Urban District in the Local Government Act 1972 to form the local government district and borough of Castle Point, ending Canvey Island's existence as a separate entity in local government.[3]

The Canvey Island Independents were established in 2004 to campaign for a return to Canvey Island's autonomy, which had been abolished 32 years previously. They argued that the current local government arrangements – which saw more councillors elected to the borough council from the mainland – were unfair to the residents of Canvey Island.[4] [5] They also campaigned for more power to be devolved to Canvey Island Town Council, a parish council subordinate to Castle Point which is responsible for limited services and facilities and on the island.[6]

Election results

Since its formation the Canvey Island Independent Party has contested elections on a yearly basis, with representation at borough and county council level. It is also active at the parish level, with Canvey Island Independents sitting on Canvey Island Town Council.[7] The party does not contest Parliamentary elections.

Borough Council elections

See also: Castle Point Borough Council elections. The Canvey Island Independents have been represented continuously on Castle Point Borough Council since their first election in 2004. They were consistently the second-largest group on the council, behind the ruling Conservatives until the 2022 elections, in which they came in first place after the Conservatives lost 6 seats.[8]

YearCouncillorsControl
2004[9] Conservative
2006[10] Conservative
2007[11] Conservative
2008[12] Conservative
2010[13] Conservative
2011[14] Conservative
2012[15] Conservative
2014[16] No overall control
2015Conservative
2016Conservative
2018Conservative
2019Conservative
2021Conservative
2022No overall control
2023[17] No overall control
2024[18] The People's Independent Party

County council elections

See also: Essex County Council elections. The Canvey Island Independents have been represented on Essex County Council since the 2009 election, having failed to secure either seat on Canvey Island at the elections in 2005. They won both Canvey Island seats at the 2021 election.

YearCouncillorsControl
2005Conservative
2009Conservative
2013Conservative
2017Conservative
2021Conservative

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: First Catalonia, next Canvey Island.
  2. Web site: Canvey Island Independent Party. Electoral Commission. 27 February 2018.
  3. Robert Hallmann, "Essex History You Can See" (Tempus Publishing, 2006,)
  4. Web site: Independence bid for Canvey 'is just political nonsense'. Basildon, Southend and Canvey Echo. 27 February 2018.
  5. Web site: Canvey Island: Residents on why they want independence . BBC News . BBC . George . Mann . 25 October 2017 . 25 October 2017.
  6. Web site: Canvey Island pushes ahead with Catalonia-style bid for independence. 16 October 2017. Independent. 27 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Councillors Contact Details. Canvey Island Town Council. 27 February 2018.
  8. News: 2022-05-06 . Castle Point Borough Council: Tories lose control after nearly 20 years . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-05-20.
  9. News: Castle Point : Council election results, June 10. 11 June 2004. Essex County Publications. NewsBank.
  10. News: Local elections: Castle Point. 4 May 2006. BBC News Online. 27 July 2014.
  11. News: Voting for us was a matter of trust. 7 May 2007. Essex County Publications. NewsBank.
  12. News: Castle Point. 2 May 2008. BBC News Online. 27 July 2014.
  13. News: Castle Point. 7 May 2010. BBC News Online. 27 July 2014.
  14. News: England council elections. 10 May 2011. BBC News Online. 27 July 2014.
  15. Web site: Councillors. Castle Point Borough Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20120726030455/http://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/main.cfm?MenuId=11542. 26 July 2012. dead. 27 July 2014.
  16. News: Castle Point. BBC News Online. 27 July 2014.
  17. News: Castle Point result - Local Elections 2023 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-05-09.
  18. Web site: Declaration of Result of Poll Borough Election - 2 May 2024 . Castle Point . 10 May 2024.