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