Liverpool Community Independents
Liverpool Community Independents | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Alan Gibbons |
| Registered | 9 February 2023 |
| Split from | Labour Party |
| Ideology | Anti-austerity |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Liverpool City Council | 3 / 85
|
The Liverpool Community Independents are a British political party based in Liverpool, formed in 2022 by former Labour councillors.
History[edit]
In April 2022 it was reported that five former Labour councillors (Councillors Alan Gibbons, Alfie Hincks, Alison Clarke, Joanne Calvert and Rona Heron) who had been suspended for voting against Labour's budget plans and three already suspended members of the Labour Party (Councillors Sam Gorst, Anna Rothery and Sarah Morton) were forming an independent party.[1][2]
In May 2022, the former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Anna Rothery, was chosen as the group's leader, councillor Alan Gibbons was chosen as its deputy leader and Sam Gorst was chosen as its treasurer.[3] By this time the party was formed of 8 former members of Liverpool City Council, who were among the group that had objected to what they called the Labour-led administration's "brutal" cuts to services.[4][5]
In 2023, Liverpool Community Independents' executive suspended Anna Rothery as leader due to her involvement in the city council parking scandal. Councillor Alan Gibbons was voted party leader and Sam Gorst his deputy.[6]
At the 2023 Liverpool City council election, the party won 3 seats, with Alan Gibbons getting almost 77% of the vote in his ward and Sam Gorst and Lucy Williams taking the Garston seat with almost 50% of the vote share after Labour holding it for almost 20 years. [7][8]
Manifesto[edit]
The party released a manifesto based around 5 core principles:[9]
- Fight against corruption and for governance based on the Nolan Principles
- Mount a national campaign against austerity
- Avoid wasting public money
- Build communities with good quality social housing, a green economy and clean air
- Empower citizens through open governance
Elected councillors[edit]
Initial representation[edit]
Between its formation in May 2022, and the 2023 City Council elections, 8 out of 90 council seats were occupied by Community Independent councillors.
| Name | Ward |
|---|---|
| Joanne Calvert | Old Swan |
| Alison Clarke | Knotty Ash |
| Alan Gibbons | Warbreck |
| Sam Gorst | Cressington |
| Rona Heron | Old Swan |
| Alfie Hincks | Everton |
| Sarah Morton | Clubmoor |
| Anna Rothery | Prince's Park |
Alan Gibbons was the Secretary of the Liverpool Walton Constituency Labour Party between 2016 and 2020.[10] Sam Gorst is the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liverpool Garston constituency at the next general election.[11]
Liverpool City Council[edit]
| Name | Ward |
|---|---|
| Alan Gibbons | Orrell Park |
| Sam Gorst | Garston |
| Lucy Williams | Garston |
Electoral performance[edit]
| Election | Votes | Seats | Position | Government | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | ± | No. | ± | |||
| Formation | 8 / 90
|
|
3rd
|
Labour | |||
| 2023 | 5,520 | 4.6 | 3 / 85
|
 5
|
5th
|
Labour | |
References[edit]
- ^ "Liverpool City Council: Labour rebels form independent group". BBC News. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Humphreys, David (5 May 2022). "Former Lord Mayor to lead new independents on Liverpool Council". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Raynor, Dominic (19 April 2022). "Labour rebels quit party to form independent opposition group at Liverpool City Council". Liverpool World. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Liverpool City Council: Former mayor to lead independent group". BBC News. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Thorp, Liam (9 February 2023). "Councillor named in parking scandal suspended as another quits". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: Labour retains control in Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton and Sefton". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Thorp, Liam; Edrich, Patrick; Humphreys, David (5 May 2023). "Labour rebel storms to landslide victory as independent". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Liverpool Community Independents". 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Traynor, Luke (16 December 2020). "Secretary of Liverpool Walton CLP suspended by Labour Party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ SKWAWKBOX (31 January 2024). "Liverpool Community Independents announce Gorst to stand vs Eagle in crowdfunded parliamentary election campaign". SKWAWKBOX. Retrieved 14 May 2024.