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".[1] At that time they had seven councillors, and in the local elections that May they fielded 17 candidates.[2] 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.[3]
After the 2007 elections they had 22 councillors,[4] and 24 after the 2008 elections.[5] 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.[6]