Derwentside Independents

Derwentside Independents
Leader	Watts Stelling
Founded	2001
Headquarters	Leadgate
Ideology	Localism
Politics of the United Kingdom Political parties Elections

Derwentside Independents are a political party in the United Kingdom registered in 2001.^[1] They contest elections in County Durham.

The party has 10 councillors on the unitary Durham County Council.^[2] The party is one of two groups of independents on the county council, and forms part of the opposition to the ruling Labour Party.^[3] Prior to 1 April 2009 they formed the second largest party on the now-abolished Derwentside District Council, making it the largest group on the council after the Labour Party.

Its leader, councillor Watts Stelling, contested the 2005 general election in the constituency of North West Durham. He came fourth out of four candidates, behind Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, obtaining 3,865 votes or 9.8% of the poll.^{[1] [4]}

Other officers are Ronald Weightman, nominating officer, and John Jopling, treasurer.^[1] According to its 2007 accounts the party had 23 elected members and 22 general members.^[5]

Founded by former Councillor Bill Stockdale, the party has benefited from the lack of organised opposition to Labour from the national political parties in Derwentside, though recently the Liberal Democrats have been more active.^{[citation needed]} The party increased in strength following the 2003 local elections, gaining eight seats from the Labour Party in west and south Derwentside.^[6] At the final election to Derwentside district council in 2007, the party gained a further 10 seats, bringing its total to 24 and reducing Labour's majority to three.^[7][8]

In March 2008, after feeling the Derwentside Independents couldn't offer a county-wide alternative to Labour, Cllr Bob Cook resigned from their ranks and joined the Liberal Democrats.^{[citation needed]} He lost his seat at the subsequent local elections.^[2] A rival Durham County Council Independent Group led by John Shuttleworth formed in 2008.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Derwentside Independents". Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=212&frmType=partydetail. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Results for the Derwentside area". Durham County Council. 2008. http://www.durham.gov.uk/PDFApproved/ElectionResults2008.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-19. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} Mckay, Neil (27 May 2008). "Political colleagues who aren't friends". The Journal (North-East England). http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/05/27/political-colleagues-who-aren-t-friends-61634-20978548/. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
4. ^ "Durham North West". The Guardian. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-891,00.html. Retrieved 19 April 2009. 
5. ^ "Statement of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2007". Electoral commission. 2008. http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/49398/Derwentside-Independents-Statement-of-Accounts-2007_29171-21642__E__N__S__W__.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-19. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ "English councils: Non-metropolitan districts". The Times: p. 47. 3 May 2003. 
7. ^ "Results: Election 2007.". The Times: p. 83. 5 May 2007. 
8. ^ Kearney, Tony (4 May 2007). "Labour holds Derwentside - but only just". The Northern Echo. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1377253.labour_holds_derwentside_but_only_just/. Retrieved 10 February 2010.