The Borders Party was a political party involved in local government in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.[2] The party returned two councillors to the Scottish Borders Council in 2007 and again in 2012.
The Borders Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Frances Pringle |
| Secretary-General | Jim Smith |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Dissolved | 2020 |
| Headquarters | North Lodge Torwoodlee Galashiels TD1 2NE[1] |
| Ideology | Borders regionalism |
| Colours | Purple |
| Scottish Borders Council | 0 / 34
|
History
editIn April 2006, Save Scott's Countryside (SSC), a campaign group opposed to the Borders Railway and a local housing development, announced their intention to field candidates at the upcoming election.[3] The party was launched in October 2006.[4] At their launch their stated ambitions were around local government becoming more responsive to community need.[4] The party remained opposed to the rail link to Edinburgh and in favour of regionalism.[5]
The Borders Party contested the 2007 Scottish Borders Council election and returned two councillors.[6]
The party also contested each ward in the 2012 Scottish Borders Council election[7] returning Sandy Aitchison and Nicholas Watson to their respective wards for a second term. The two councillors joined a coalition administration as independents.[8]
In August 2012, Borders Party Cllr Nicholas Watson announced he would be leaving the area to pursue employment in Cumbria.[9] He resigned his seat on the Council the following February.[10] The by-election for the Leaderdale and Melrose ward was won by Iain Gillespie, also of the Borders Party, on 2 May 2013.[11] Frances Pringle took over as leader.[12]
The Borders Party were part of the Independent group on the council.[13]
At the 2017 local elections Gillespie and Aitchison stood as independent candidates.[14]
The party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission in November 2020.[15]
References
edit- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ View registration Borders Party Electoral Commission Register of Political Parties
- ^ "Campaigners to seek council seats". BBC News. 18 April 2006.
- ^ a b "New party set for official launch". BBC News. 16 October 2006.
- ^ "Borders faces its own North-South divide". The Scotsman. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ "Independents suffer heavy losses". BBC News. 4 May 2007.
- ^ "Borders Party reveals May election line-up". The Southern Reporter. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ "New coalition to run Scottish Borders Council after governing deal struck". STV News. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ "Borders Party leader Nicholas Watson to step down". BBC News. 30 August 2012.
- ^ "Borders Party councillor resigns from SBC". Peebleshire News. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ "Borders Party's Iain Gillespie wins Leaderdale and Melrose by-election". BBC News. 3 May 2013.
- ^ "Pye stands for the Borders Party". Peebleshire News. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ "Councillors by Party: Borders Party member of the Independent group". Scottish Borders Council. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Hodgson, Callum (29 March 2017). "Candidates announced for May's local government elections". Border Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "View registration - the Electoral Commission".
