A new hyper-local party with ambitions to stand in council elections in Bolton has been formed.
Active for Westhoughton, which promises to be “resident-led”, has been created by a couple from the area with members who have joined so far coming from all political backrounds and none.
Former Labour Party candidate Richard Bates, aged 34, said the reason he and his wife Jennifer set the party up is simple.
He said: “We do not consider that any of the mainstream political parties work well for Westhoughton. Our core philosophy is that mainstream political parties have no place in local government, and should stick with Westminster.
“Active For Westhoughton will be a resident-led party in that our local policies will be formed following feedback from those who live in the area.
“The party is to this end, neither of the Left or the Right of the political spectrum.”
The new group has taken inspiration from the success of other hyper-local parties in the borough – namely Farnworth and Kearsley First and Horwich and Blackrod First Independents.
These independent parties now hold a tenth of the seats at Bolton Council after each forming less than two years ago.
Westhoughton First Independents, also created last year by town councillor Jack Speight, are yet to win any seats at the borough council elections.
Mr Bates added: “Our aim is to become a ‘peoples voice’ for Westhoughton and to represent the town on both Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council and Westhoughton Town Council.
“Our party slogan is clear: we want to reinvent politics on a local level.”
Members include former Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative members, as well as individuals who have never previously been involved in politics but hold a desire to make a difference, according to Mr Bates.
He himself was a Labour Party candidate in the Westhoughton Town Council elections last year but left the party in August.
The Electoral Commission advised the group to amend its application to be formally recognised as a party due to voter confusion potentially arising from the group’s original name, The Weshtoughton Independent Group, and the already formed Westhoughton First Independents.
The new group plans to start a public engagement process will commence once the coronavirus outbreak is contained.
An initial public meeting will be arranged and will most likely take place at the end of the summer after which election candidates will be announced.
The party does not intend to stand in any parliamentary elections.
For more information about the party, visit the website at www.active-for-westhoughton.org.uk.
