For Darwen Party

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For Darwen Party
Leader Tony Melia
Founded 2007
Headquarters Duckworth Street, Darwen
Political Ideology Localism
Political Position n/a
International Affiliation n/a
European Affiliation n/a
European Parliament Group n/a
Colours Cyan
Website fordarwen.org.uk
See also Politics of the UK

Political parties
Elections

The For Darwen Party is a small political party with five seats on Blackburn with Darwen Council. The party fielded candidates in wards in the small town of Darwen, which lies to the south of Blackburn, with a platform that the views of Darweners are not properly represented in the town hall.

Contents

[edit] Foundation

The party was founded in 2007 by Tony Melia[1], who had previously stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate against Jack Straw in the 2005 general election in Blackburn. He said he quit the Liberal Democrats to form For Darwen he was tired of what the Labour-controlled council was doing, particularly with the Darwen Academy, leisure centre, and regeneration.[2]

The party gained its first councillor within a month, when Michael Johnson joined from the far right England First Party[2][3].

[edit] 2007 Local Elections

Shortly after Johnson's move, the party gained two seats in the May 2007 local elections.[4]

With Labour losing overall control of the council, For Darwen was expected to be courted by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, who were competing compete to form a working coalition. For Darwen chose to form a three-way coalition with Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. The party, along with the Tories, continue to maintain links with Councillor Arif Waghat, who was convicted of benefit fraud in 2007.[5]

[edit] 2008 Local Elections

Councillor Johnson quit For Darwen in March 2008 over "policy differences with party members", damaging the town hall coalition, and reducing the number of seats the party held.[6].

Despite this setback in the run-up to the elections, For Darwen gained a further three seats in the May 2008 Local Elections [7], 2 coming in the same wards (Earcroft, Sunnyhurst) as the 2007 elections.

[edit] References

  1. ^ New party pledges to put Darwen first, David Bartlett, Lancashire Telegraph, 3 March 2007
  2. ^ a b Party's first public meeting, Lancashire Telegraph, 13 March 2007
  3. ^ England First pair quit party, Lancashire Telegraph, 5 March 2007
  4. ^ Labour loses overall control of Blackburn town hall, Lancashire Telegraph, 4 May 2007
  5. ^ Benefit fraud councillor still considering his future, Lancashire Telegraph, 28 November 2007
  6. ^ Councillor quits For Darwen party, By Tom Moseley, Lancashire Telegraph, 12 March 2008
  7. ^ May 2008 official results

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

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