Newcastle Independents

Newcastle Independents, formerly known as Newcastle First, is a localist political party[1] based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Initially established as the Newcastle upon Tyne Community First Party, the party was registered with the Electoral Commission in February 2011 and fielded its first candidates in May 2011 and won its first council seat in 2019 with two more elected in 2021. The party changed its name to Newcastle Independents in 2019.[1] As of May 2023, the party has four councillors elected to Newcastle City Council.[2]

Newcastle Independents
LeaderTracey Mitchell
Founded14 February 2011 (2011-02-14)
RegisteredPP05[1]
HeadquartersDenton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne[1]
IdeologyLocalism
Councillors
4 / 78
Website
www.newcastleindependents.uk

Electoral performance

Newcastle Independents stood for election under the registered description of It's Time to Put Newcastle First from 2011 to 2019 with some candidates standing under the registered description of Local Community Candidate in 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, the party won its first council seat, with Ian Donaldson[3][4] being elected in Callerton & Throckley Ward[5] and the party coming second in both Lemington[6] and Denton & Westerhope Wards.[7]

On 6 May 2021, two more candidates were elected to Newcastle City Council.

In May 2023, Newcastle Independents lost Callerton and Throckley ward but gained two seats in Lemington and Denton and Westerhope. The party now has a total of four councillors.

Local campaigns

Newcastle Independents has led a number of campaigns including:

  • Campaigning for the Tyne and Wear Metro to be extended into Northumberland.[8]
  • Campaigning to prevent housing being built on green belt land.[9][10]
  • Creating a People's Mayor, if Newcastle established an elected mayor for the city.[11]
  • Calling for the creation of a council-owned energy company.[12]
  • Highlighting the state of grass cutting in Newcastle.[13]
  • Campaigning to stop the closure of Blackett Street to traffic.[14]

References
  1. "View registration". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. Holland, Daniel (8 July 2019). "Newcastle First changes its name". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  3. Holland, Daniel (4 May 2019). "Meet the man promising political change from the 'same old'". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. "Councillor Ian Donaldson". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. Holland, Daniel (3 May 2019). "Newcastle First make election history as Labour sees vote drop". The Northern Echo. Darlington: Newsquest. ISSN 2043-0442. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. "Election results for Lemington". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  7. "Election results for Denton and Westerhope". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. Scott, Sarah (13 April 2011). "Party calls for extension of Metro into Cramlington". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach. ISSN 0307-3645. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  9. "People power on show against Newcastle housing plans". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach. ISSN 0307-3645. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  10. Pearson, Adrian (21 February 2012). "Council bow to pressure over green belt building". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach.
  11. Pearson, Adrian (10 April 2012). "City peers go head-to-head in Newcastle mayor row". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach.
  12. O'Donoghue, Dan (22 April 2016). "Newcastle council urged to set up not-for-profit power firm to save residents hundreds". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach.
  13. Holland, Danie l (12 July 2019). "Newcastle suburbs descend into grass jungle after council cuts". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach.
  14. Holland, Daniel (18 December 2019). "Campaigners launch bid to 'save' Newcastle city centre street from closure". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne: Reach. Retrieved 14 July 2020.


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