Barnsley Independent Group
Encyclopedia
Barnsley Independent Group is a British
political party
in Barnsley
, England.
The party was founded in January 2006 by a group of Independent
councillors on Barnsley Council, described as "dissident former "old labour" councillors". At that time they had seven councillors, and in the local elections
that May they fielded 17 candidates. They have contested council elections since. The party leader is Phillip Birkinshaw, but there are no whips and membership is only open to councillors and candidates, which the party says is to prevent influence from being exerted in the background by a party structure or powerful individuals. All candidates pay their own expenses.
After the 2007 elections they had 22 councillors, and 24 after the 2008 elections. It currently has 18 councillors on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
and they only contest elections in Barnsley, mainly to the council. They currently form the official opposition to the Labour
controlled council, who have an 11 seat majority since the 2010 elections.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, England.
The party was founded in January 2006 by a group of Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
councillors on Barnsley Council, described as "dissident former "old labour" councillors". At that time they had seven councillors, and in the local elections
Barnsley local elections
One third of Barnsley metropolitan borough council in South Yorkshire, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2004 63 councillors are elected from 21 wards.-Political control:...
that May they fielded 17 candidates. They have contested council elections since. The party leader is Phillip Birkinshaw, but there are no whips and membership is only open to councillors and candidates, which the party says is to prevent influence from being exerted in the background by a party structure or powerful individuals. All candidates pay their own expenses.
After the 2007 elections they had 22 councillors, and 24 after the 2008 elections. It currently has 18 councillors on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley is a metropolitan borough of the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire, England. Its main town is Barnsley....
and they only contest elections in Barnsley, mainly to the council. They currently form the official opposition to the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
controlled council, who have an 11 seat majority since the 2010 elections.