Farnworth and Kearsley First
LeaderTracey Wilkinson
Registered13 September 2017
Bolton Council
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Farnworth and Kearsley First is a local political party to represent the views of the towns of Farnworth and Kearsley in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It currently has three elected councillors.

History

The party received confirmation of its official party status from the Electoral Commission on 13 September 2017.[1] The party won its first seat to Bolton Council by winning a by-election on 8 March 2018.[2][3] Two months later, the party won two more seats in the 2018 Bolton Council election.[4] In the 2019 Bolton Council election, the party won two further seats.[5][6]

After the 2019 local election, the incumbent Labour elected 24 elected councillors, losing their majority on the council that they had maintained since 2011, and the leadership that they had maintained since 2006.

Farnworth and Kearsley First agreed with the six Liberal Democrats councillors, three UKIP councillors and two Horwich & Blackrod First Independents councillors, to provide a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative Party who have 20 elected councillors.[7][8]

In 2020, one of the party's founding members, Paul Heslop, left the party after "'struggling' with the party's direction", starting a new party called "One Kearsley".[9] In the 2023 Bolton local elections Heslop's party won 3 seats, with Farnworth and Kersley First having been reduced to 2 seats.[10] Paul Heslop resigned on 2 October 2023, and Farnworth and Kearsley First won back the vacant Kearsley seat on 16 November 2023, giving the party three serving councillors covering both Farnworth and Kearsley towns.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Farnworth and Kearsley First Party". electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. ^ Naylor, Mary (9 March 2018). "Farnworth and Kearsley First victory in a political earthquake". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Farnworth by-election: Newly formed party wins first seat". BBC News. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. ^ Stratham, Nick (4 May 2018). "Labour clings to power as opposition parties celebrate night of shocks in Bolton Council elections". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  5. ^ Vesty, Helena (5 March 2019). "Farnworth and Kearsley First announce candidates as new parties spring up". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  6. ^ Timan, Joseph (3 May 2019). "Bolton Council election results ward by ward". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Town has first Tory leader in four decades". BBC News. 23 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Local election results 2019". Bolton Council. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  9. ^ Molloy, Thomas (29 May 2020). "Local politician sets up new party - after leaving the one he helped set up". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. ^ Gee, Chris (11 May 2023). "Date set to elect new council leader as Labour expected to take over in Bolton". The Bolton News. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  11. ^ Harrigan, Joe (2 October 2023). "Party leader and founder announces surprise resignation". The Bolton News. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  12. ^ Gee, Chris (17 November 2023). "Bolton by elections see Lib Dems and Farnworth and Kearsley First gain a seat". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

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