Community Group
Community Group are a British political party in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, founded in 2001.[1] The Community Group has four councillors serving on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council.[2]
The party was founded in the wake of a political scandal dubbed "Donnygate" that saw 21 Doncaster councillors convicted of expenses fraud from 1997.[3] The party had 6 borough councillors in Doncaster in 2001.[4] Party leader Martin Williams contested Doncaster North at the 2005 general election against Ed Miliband, receiving 2,365 votes (7.5%, in fourth place).[5] Jessie Credland stood for election as Mayor of Doncaster for the party in 2005, coming fourth with 10,263 votes (9.4%).[6] Garth Oxby defected to become an independent in May 2005 following a deal made with the Labour group for Community Group councillors to be given positions chairing council committees,[7] a deal repeated the following year.[8] Richard Walker and Jessie Credland also later left to sit as independent members. The party lost John Cooke's seat to Labour in 2007.[9] In 2007, the party also had 10 town councillors.[10]
English Democrats Mayor Peter Davies is associated with the group.[2] The Community Group's own candidate, Stuart Exelby, formerly a Labour councillor and deputy mayor from 2008-9,[11] received 2152 votes.[12] Martin Williams said of his election, "I am happy about this,"[12] but in February 2010 said that "I think the mayoral system is in tatters... It has been tried and failed."[13]
See also
References
- ↑ "Community Group, The". Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- 1 2 Wainwright, Martin (7 June 2009). "English Democrat flies the red and white flag in Doncaster". The Observer. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ Parker, Simon (29 April 2002). "Leaving the legacy of Donnygate". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ Parker, Simon (21 September 2001). "Shakeup to clean up Doncaster". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "Result: Doncaster North". Election 2005. BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ Dunlop, Emma (7 May 2005). "Town's Mayor clings on after contest goes to second count". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "Council cabinet `stitch up' claim". Doncaster Free Press. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "Lib dem and Indie councillors furious at being frozen out". Doncaster Free Press. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ Smith, Anna (5 May 2007). "Local Elections: Small groups hold balance in hung city". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "Community Group Statement of Accounts 2007" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "PROFILE: Stuart Exelby". Doncaster Free Press. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- 1 2 Jones, David (4 June 2009). "Peter Davies is Doncaster's new elected mayor". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ↑ "Doncaster's mayoral system 'in tatters'". Doncaster Star. South Yorkshire. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
External links
- Community Group on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council
- Martin William's profile on Thorne and Moorends Town Council.