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Swale Independents

Swale Independents
LeaderMike Baldock
Founded21 May 2018; 6 years ago (2018-05-21)
Headquarters24 Station Road, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7JS
IdeologyLocalism
Colours  Orange
  Green
Slogan"Putting Local People First"
Kent County Council
1 / 81
Swale Borough Council
11 / 47
Website
www.swaleindependentsalliance.org

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