Independents Party Launch
PAUL McLAUGHLIN
The newly formed Hastings Independents Party celebrated the launch of its breakaway political venture with 40-50 people crammed into Mike’s Bar in Norman Road, St Leonards last Friday (26 January).
Cllr Andy Batsford
The new political grouping consists of eight erstwhile Labour councillors who resigned the party whip in December. They are: the former Council Leader, Paul Barnett, his Deputy Leader, Maya Evans, and Cllrs Andy Batsford, Simon Willis, Ali Roark, John Cannan, Nigel Sinden and Mike Turner. They have applied to the Electoral Commission to list the Hastings Independents Party as a political party on the national register.
Cllr Maya Evans
Cllr Sinden, who represents the Silverhill ward, expressed his sadness at leaving Labour. He said he had become “deeply frustrated” at the way the national party had tried to control the local party in Hastings in recent years. “My values have not changed, he said, “it is the Labour Party that has changed”, adding, “it will be much easier for me to stand up for my residents in Silverhill and across Hastings as an independent voice within the Hastings Independents group.”
Cllr Batsford told the gathering that, since the formation of the new group in December, he and his colleagues had been “overwhelmed” by positive messages of support from people across Hastings who were “desperate for a new type of politics” and one “not constrained by out-of-date national party rules”. He said he wanted to “harness the hardworking, creative, and independent nature of Hastings and St Leonards to drive this community forward in a way that will capture everyone and provide a sense of community, pride and energy”.
Cllr Evans spoke passionately about the need to build a progressive alliance to deliver social justice for all the people of the town. She said the agreement with the Green Party was “the first step towards working in a new way that is not constrained by national party rules and shows a strong commitment to opening up the council so that the brightest and best from Hastings can contribute to this amazing town”.
She said that the new party will hold a series of meetings and events over the next month “not only to celebrate our town, but also to provide an opportunity for those with a passion for this town to help shape the strategies and policies we will bring to residents’ doorsteps during the local election”.
It is unclear at this stage how many seats the new party will contest in May’s elections. Cllr Evans is the only one of the group up for re-election, whilst Cllr Roark has already announced that she will be stepping down as a councillor when her term ends in April.
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As an Independent Network Councillor I normally welcome more Independents. Hopefully Hastings residents will know where this lot are coming from and decide whether they are more Socialist Worker placard bearing ‘independents’ or broad church Independents.