Burnley and Padiham Independent Party

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The Burnley and Padiham Independent Party was a registered political party in the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2023,[1] focused on the neighbouring Lancashire towns of Burnley and Padiham.

In 2017, four members of the local Liberal Democrats left the party over its stance on Brexit, to form the Burnley and Padiham Independents.[2][3]

Neil Mottershead retained his Burnley Borough Council seat in the 2018 election,[4] but in early 2019 Christine White stepped down following claims of harassment from a resident, prompting a by-election which was won by the Lib Dems.[5] Charlie Briggs also retained his seat in 2019, and the party won in the Rosegrove with Lowerhouse and Whittlefield with Ightenhill wards, bringing their total to five councillors.[6][7]

Briggs also unsuccessfully contested the Parliament constituency in the 2019 United Kingdom general election.[7]

The party disbanded in August 2023.[8] Of the party's three remaining councillors on Burnley Borough Council, Mark Payne and Neil Mottershead then sat as independents, while Charlie Briggs joined Labour.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ View registration - Burnley and Padiham Independent Party Electoral Commission
  2. ^ Four Lib Dem councillors quit in protest at party being too pro-European NOVEMBER 14, 2017 - 7:04 AM Mark Pack
  3. ^ Collis, Dominic (13 November 2017). "Shock as four Liberal Democrat councillors quit". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. ^ Election results 2018 Burnley Borough Council
  5. ^ Peter Magill (14 April 2019). "By-election win for Lib Dems in Burnley". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. ^ Burnley Council power fight goes to round two Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen
  7. ^ a b Election results 2019 Burnley Borough Council
  8. ^ "Burnley and Padiham Independent Party". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  9. ^ Jacobs, Bill (18 September 2023). "Two Burnley councillors defect to leave town on knife edge". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 4 October 2023.