The Borders Party
LeaderFrances Pringle
Secretary-GeneralJim Smith
Founded2006 (2006)
Dissolved2020
HeadquartersNorth Lodge
Torwoodlee
Galashiels
TD1 2NE[1]
IdeologyBorders regionalism
ColoursPurple
Scottish Borders Council
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The Borders Party was a political party involved in local government in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.[2] The party returned two councillors to the Scottish Borders Council in 2007 and again in 2012.

History

In April 2006, Save Scott's Countryside (SSC), a campaign group opposed to the Borders Railway and a local housing development, announced their intention to field candidates at the upcoming election.[3] The party was launched in October 2006.[4] At their launch their stated ambitions were around local government becoming more responsive to community need.[4] The party remained opposed to the rail link to Edinburgh and in favour of regionalism.[5]

The Borders Party contested the 2007 Scottish Borders Council election and returned two councillors.[6]

The party also contested each ward in the 2012 Scottish Borders Council election[7] returning Sandy Aitchison and Nicholas Watson to their respective wards for a second term. The two councillors joined a coalition administration as independents.[8]

In August 2012, Borders Party Cllr Nicholas Watson announced he would be leaving the area to pursue employment in Cumbria.[9] He resigned his seat on the Council the following February.[10] The by-election for the Leaderdale and Melrose ward was won by Iain Gillespie, also of the Borders Party, on 2 May 2013.[11] Frances Pringle took over as leader.[12]

The Borders Party were part of the Independent group on the council.[13]

At the 2017 local elections Gillespie and Aitchison stood as independent candidates.[14]

The party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission in November 2020.[15]

References

  1. ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. ^ View registration Borders Party Electoral Commission Register of Political Parties
  3. ^ "Campaigners to seek council seats". BBC News. 18 April 2006.
  4. ^ a b "New party set for official launch". BBC News. 16 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Borders faces its own North-South divide". The Scotsman. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Independents suffer heavy losses". BBC News. 4 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Borders Party reveals May election line-up". The Southern Reporter. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  8. ^ "New coalition to run Scottish Borders Council after governing deal struck". STV News. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Borders Party leader Nicholas Watson to step down". BBC News. 30 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Borders Party councillor resigns from SBC". Peebleshire News. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Borders Party's Iain Gillespie wins Leaderdale and Melrose by-election". BBC News. 3 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Pye stands for the Borders Party". Peebleshire News. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Councillors by Party: Borders Party member of the Independent group". Scottish Borders Council. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  14. ^ Hodgson, Callum (29 March 2017). "Candidates announced for May's local government elections". Border Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  15. ^ "View registration - the Electoral Commission".


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