The Community Group (London Borough of Hounslow)
Encyclopedia
The Community Group, also known as the Independent Community Group (ICG), and registered with the Electoral Commission
as The Community (London Borough of Hounslow), is a small political party
based in Isleworth
in the London Borough of Hounslow
.
The party was founded on 1 January 1994 as the Isleworth Community Group to build a "vibrant community" and to advocate public participation within the decision making processes. It says it is non-ideological, aiming to reflect local public opinion, and has criticised the "incestuous nature of establishment politics".
after the 1998 local elections
.
Following the 2006 local elections
, the group had six councillors, representing Isleworth (Paul Fisher, Phil Andrews and Genevieve Hibbs) and Syon wards (Shirley Fisher, Caroline Andrews and Jon Hardy). They accepted an offer to form a coalition administration with the Conservative
group of councillors. This lasted until the Community Group lost all their seats to the Labour Party
in the 2010 local elections
. The group is currently considering whether or not to field council candidates in the future.
In the 2005 general election
, the group's leader, Phil Andrews, stood in Brentford and Isleworth and received 2% of the votes, despite claiming that he had been "in it to win it".
and Alan Keen
to council events, because the MPs had protested about the inclusion of ICG leader and former National Front member Phil Andrews in the council's new decision-making executive. They did not stand in the 2010 general election in an attempt to increase the chances of the Keens losing, although Alan Keen MP still held his seat by a comfortable margin.
In March 2009, the party's councillors opposed the expansion of the sewage works in Mogden. The ICG then helped organise a protest against the expansion in April 2009.
Phil Andrews was a member of the National Front
from 1977 to 1989, which he says he is "indescribably" ashamed of, claiming to now campaign against racism.
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
as The Community (London Borough of Hounslow), is a small 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...
based in Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
in the London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
.
The party was founded on 1 January 1994 as the Isleworth Community Group to build a "vibrant community" and to advocate public participation within the decision making processes. It says it is non-ideological, aiming to reflect local public opinion, and has criticised the "incestuous nature of establishment politics".
Elections
They got their first councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
after the 1998 local elections
Hounslow Council election, 1998
The 1998 Hounslow Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Hounslow London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council....
.
Following the 2006 local elections
United Kingdom local elections, 2006
Local government elections took place in England on Thursday 4 May 2006. Polling stations were open between 7:00 and 22:00.All London borough council seats were up for election, as well as a third of the seats on each of the metropolitan borough councils, and a third of some unitary authorities...
, the group had six councillors, representing Isleworth (Paul Fisher, Phil Andrews and Genevieve Hibbs) and Syon wards (Shirley Fisher, Caroline Andrews and Jon Hardy). They accepted an offer to form a coalition administration with the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
group of councillors. This lasted until the Community Group lost all their seats to the Labour Party
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...
in the 2010 local elections
Hounslow local elections
Hounslow Council in London, England is elected every four years. 60 councillors are elected from 20 wards, with by-elections held to fill any vacancies between elections.-Political control:...
. The group is currently considering whether or not to field council candidates in the future.
In the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, the group's leader, Phil Andrews, stood in Brentford and Isleworth and received 2% of the votes, despite claiming that he had been "in it to win it".
Activities
The party had a motion passed in 2007 that called on the council not to invite the local MPs, Ann KeenAnn Keen
Ann Lloyd Keen is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brentford and Isleworth from 1997, until she was defeated by Conservative candidate Mary Macleod in 2010.-Early life:...
and Alan Keen
Alan Keen
David Alan Keen was a British Labour Co-operative politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston from 1992 until his death.-Early life:...
to council events, because the MPs had protested about the inclusion of ICG leader and former National Front member Phil Andrews in the council's new decision-making executive. They did not stand in the 2010 general election in an attempt to increase the chances of the Keens losing, although Alan Keen MP still held his seat by a comfortable margin.
In March 2009, the party's councillors opposed the expansion of the sewage works in Mogden. The ICG then helped organise a protest against the expansion in April 2009.
Members
Genevieve Hibbs PhD, a former nurse first elected to represent Isleworth in 2002, was the Mayor of Hounslow for a year from May 2008.Phil Andrews was a member of the National Front
British National Front
The National Front is a far right, white-only political party whose major political activities took place during the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity peaked in the 1979 general election, when it received 191,719 votes ....
from 1977 to 1989, which he says he is "indescribably" ashamed of, claiming to now campaign against racism.
External links
- Old website on the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- List of Hounslow councillors by party
- Phil Andrews' blog
- Isleworth councillors, Hounslow Chronicle, May 2008.