Flatpack Democracy 2021: the campaign groups aiming to transform localities, from Grimsby to the Isle of Wight, in the May elections
We’re delighted to run this press release (here’s the PDF) from Flatpack Democracy 2021, who have been assembling a list of independent candidates - adhering to the radical localism of Flatpack (long celebrated here) - running in a number of councils across these islands.
From Grimsby to the Isle of Wight, Bexhill to Bude, a revolution is brewing. Buoyed by the sense of ‘can do’ camaraderie that Covid-19 sparked in many communities last year, and by the trailblazing success of independent-run councils.
On Thursday 6 May, the UK will go to the polls, and the major political parties will wrestle for control of the larger councils across the country. In many places, the elections will return the same old faces to power and, for that community, nothing much will change.
But, in a significant number of locations up and down the UK, there is a possibility that locals will wake up to a new kind of local politics – a council of independents who have shaken off the ideological shackles and vested interests of established political parties, and who have the power to implement real change.
“2020 showed us how strong we are locally when we work together. This year we have an opportunity to make our town even better, supported by a council that consults, listens and instinctively says ‘How can we help?’”
– Jackie Diffey, Bude-Stratton Community Alliance
Flatpack Democracy is a DIY method for communities to win back their council as non-party candidates, pioneered in Frome in 2011 and since then emulated by numerous constituencies across the UK.
For the last 12 months, the #Flatpack2021 campaign has been working to arm groups of independents with the tools they need to win elections, sweep their councils of party politics, and effectively meet the needs of their local communities.
Fighting for independents
Countless independent groups are following the lessons of Flatpack Democracy’s two books and standing for election on 6 May. The campaigns that #Flatpack2021 is closely involved with include:
• United 4 East Marsh – Grimsby
Lee Coulbeck and Billy Dasein are standing as non-party candidates working together to take back power for their community, create a roadmap for change, and make up for the shortcomings of the existing council.
"It simply does not have to be this way. Most people are well aware of the issues they face, what they want is a clear plan of action to sort them out.”
– Lee Coulbeck
• Our Island – Isle of Wight
An organisation based solely upon the interests of the Isle of Wight and its people, promoted and realised by committed individuals working in a collaborative partnership. The group is fielding four candidates for the Unitary Authority and will be working alongside the Green party and several other independents.
• Bude-Stratton Community Alliance – Cornwall
Inspired by the qualities and strengths of the community’s response to Covid and operating on the principle that Bude needs councillors who support and represent the locale, the alliance is fielding a host of candidates representing diverse backgrounds and occupations. They include a plumber, teacher, baker, shopkeeper, writer, bar worker, project manager, artist, business owner, cook, charity founder, full-time parent, software developer, publisher, designer and shoemaker.
“I believe the council should seek out and support people who don’t normally have a voice, but who are directly affected by the council’s decisions. We’ve seen huge grass-roots achievements in places like Frome and Buckfastleigh and I feel Bude-Stratton Town Council could be just as forward thinking, creative, inclusive and free of party politics.”
– Rose Choules, hopeful Bude councillor
• Change in Shotton Colliery – County Durham
A group of 15 residents (eight women and seven men aged 36 to 76), tired of decades of mismanagement and lack of investment from their Labour council is standing on the promise of getting their village’s interests genuinely represented and acted on by the parish council.
www.facebook.com/watch/ChangeinShottonColliery
• The Haswells Community Party – County Durham
Having used Flatpack Democracy as a guide to form their group before the local elections in 2017, the Haswells Community Party took all nine seats on the Haswell parish council and have been representing their community for the four years since. Throughout that time, they have reduced taxes and maintained a pledge to invest a third of their precept on community-engagement opportunities. They hope to continue this good work beyond 2021.
www.thehaswellscommuni.wixsite.com/thcp
• Open Hexham – Northumberland
On a mission to give Hexham a more positive, proactive and approachable town council, this nine-strong group (five men and four women aged 26–70) is determined to harness community spirit, break the one-party deadlock that Hexham has been in for years, and form a council that actively listens to the needs and concerns of the town’s residents.
• Bexhill Together – East Sussex
Bexhill-on-Sea residents have been fighting for the establishment of a town council for over a decade. In 2011, the Conservative-run
Rother District Council overruled a Community Governance Review in which 93.5% of residents supported the idea of creating a town council, and rejected their wishes. In response, the non-party-affiliated group Democracy4Bexhill put up a group of independent candidates at the next election. They swept the board, the Conservatives lost control of the district, and consequently, Bexhill will be holding its first-ever town council elections on 6 May. Bexhill Together is a group of like-minded residents fielding 12 candidates – including the chair of Democracy4Bexhill.
• Karen Pilkington – Plymouth
Inspired by the Flatpack approach, local resident Karen is setting out to bring fresh, positive politics to Devonport, Morice Town and Keyham, giving their communities a meaningful voice in council decision-making.
• Ideal Bradford – Wiltshire
Since becoming the majority group on Bradford-upon- Avon’s town council at the 2017 elections, Ideal Bradford has significantly improved the way the council runs, protected local green spaces and wildlife habitats, and set up projects to improve the town’s sport and recreational facilities. By working closely with community groups, they have been able to launch and lead a much greater number of projects and initiatives than both national-party councillors and unaffiliated independents.
***
“It’s great to see all of these independents working together to run their councils. At parish, town and district level it’s not about how the government of the day is doing; it’s about keeping the libraries and sport facilities open, the holes in the road filled and a million other day-to-day things that make life better for the residents. To do that successfully you need to build a functioning community in which all the residents feel they have a stake.”
– Peter Macfadyen, author of Flatpack Democracy and former mayor of Frome
For more information about Flatpack Democracy, the #Flatpack2021 campaign, and the groups setting out to change British politics from the ground up, visit www.flatpack2021.co.uk.
Elections will take place across Britain on 6 May – but this year we’re expecting more people than ever will be submitting their ballot via postal votes, which will start from 20 April.
What is Flatpack Democracy?
Flatpack Democracy is a DIY method for communities to win back their council as non-party candidates, pioneered in Frome in 2011 and since then emulated by numerous constituencies across the UK. The Flatpack Democracy campaign supports people seeking to reclaim local politics from the systems and political parties that are currently failing them. Through Flatpack Democracy, communities across the UK at last have a viable alternative to the dysfunction, divided loyalties and inertia that often plague local politics.
The campaign has been working directly with dozens of non-party-affiliated groups and has inspired many more. As well as supporting them in their election campaigns, #Flatpack2021 will continue to help them after they are elected, guiding them as they implement a collaboration-driven approach to local government that will ensure their parish, town or district council is ambitious, effective and responsive to their local community’s needs.
Flatpack Democracy books
The books Flatpack Democracy (2014) and its follow-up Flatpack Democracy 2 (2019) are available via www.flatpackdemocracy.co.uk
Twitter: @flatpackdemoc Instagram: @flatpackdemocracy