Borders Party
Political party in Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
The Borders Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Frances Pringle |
| Secretary-General | Jim Smith |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Dissolved | 2020 |
| Headquarters | North Lodge Torwoodlee Galashiels TD1 2NE[1] |
| Ideology | Borders regionalism |
| Colours | Purple |
| Scottish Borders Council | 0 / 34
|
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]
