Swale Independents Explained

Swale Independents
Leader:Mike Baldock
Ideology:Localism
Headquarters:24 Station Road, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7JS
Country:the United Kingdom
Colours: Orange
Green
Slogan:"Putting Local People First"
Seats1 Title:Kent County Council
Seats2 Title:Swale Borough Council

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]

They sit together with one independent on Swale Borough Council as "The Swale Independents Alliance".[4]

History

At 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

The 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

  1. Web site: View registration - The Electoral Commission . 2024-05-23 . search.electoralcommission.org.uk.
  2. Web site: 2017-08-04 . Councillor banned for three months . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  3. Web site: Ltd . Hudson Berkley Reinhart . Council leader accuses UKIP leader of disregarding confidentially . 2024-05-23 . www.sittingbourne.me . en.
  4. Web site: 2024-05-23 . Your Councillors . 2024-05-23 . services.swale.gov.uk.
  5. Web site: Ltd . Hudson Berkley Reinhart . Swale's biggest electoral shake up in decades promises to deliver significant changes. . 2024-05-23 . www.sittingbourne.me . en.
  6. Web site: 2023-05-05 . Another rainbow coalition on the cards for Swale . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  7. News: 2023-05-02 . England local elections 2023: The rise of the independents . 2024-05-23 . BBC News . en-GB.
  8. Web site: 2020-08-20 . Councillor with £1m of property accused of being a 'hypocrite' . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  9. News: 2021-05-07 . Tories maintain majority in Kent County Council elections . 2024-05-23 . BBC News . en-GB.
  10. Web site: 2021-05-06 . Election results by party, 6 May 2021 . 2024-05-23 . democracy.kent.gov.uk.
  11. Web site: Ltd . Hudson Berkley Reinhart . Cllr Mike Baldock takes the helm at Swale Borough Council . 2024-05-23 . www.sittingbourne.me . en.
  12. Web site: 2024-05-23 . Monthly meetings calendar - April 2022 . 2024-05-23 . ws.swale.gov.uk.
  13. Web site: 2023-05-04 . Election results by party, 4 May 2023 . 2024-05-23 . services.swale.gov.uk.
  14. Web site: As a Green councillor walked out one midsummer morning LocalCouncils.co.uk . 2024-05-23 . www.localcouncils.co.uk.
  15. Web site: 2023-12-07 . Deputy leader of council resigns . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  16. Web site: 2023-12-20 . Deputy council leader returns after resignation U-turn . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  17. Web site: 2024-03-01 . Long-standing councillor to stand to be Kent MP . 2024-05-23 . Kent Online . en.
  18. News: Sittingbourne and Sheppey - General election results 2024 . 2024-07-05 . BBC News . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Our Principles . 2024-05-23 . Swale Independents Alliance . en.

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