Horwich and Blackrod First

Summary

Horwich and Blackrod First Independents (HBFI) is a local political party which was formed by Independent Councillors and a group of local residents in the towns of Horwich and Blackrod within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, in the historic County of Lancashire.

Horwich and Blackrod First Independents
AbbreviationHBFI
Registered8 February 2019
Horwich Town Council
13 / 14
Blackrod Town Council
5 / 9
Bolton Council
6 / 60
Website
Official Facebook page

Formation edit

The party was formed on 7 August 2018 at a meeting held at Horwich RMI Cricket Club. The party was formed from two local community groups (Horwich First & Blackrod First), as well as local residents and independent Town Councillors,[1] received confirmation of its official party status from the Electoral Commission on 8 February 2019.[2] It does not operate a whip.[1]

History edit

In the 2019 Bolton Council election, the party won two seats to Bolton Council and gained another seat in 2021 local elections.[3] And following the 2019 town council elections, the party had eleven of the fourteen seats on Horwich Town Council.[4] In April 2022, the party's Leader, Councillor Marie Brady who was a member of both Bolton Council and Horwich Town Council resigned as Leader and quit the party defecting to the Conservative Party citing major internal differences within the party as the reason for leaving. This left the party holding two Bolton Council seats and ten Horwich Town Council seats.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Timan, Joseph (21 February 2019). "Horwich and Blackrod First Independents will run in Bolton". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Changes to the registers of political parties made since 27 January 2019" (PDF). electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ^ Timan, Joseph (3 May 2019). "Bolton Council election results ward by ward". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. ^ Vesty, Helena (3 May 2019). "Elections 2019: Town council elections see Labour vanish and local parties rule". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.

External links edit

  • Horwich and Blackrod First Independents on Facebook