West Dunbartonshire Community Party
West Dunbartonshire Community Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Drew MacEoghainn |
| Founded | 19 May 2016 |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire |
| Ideology | Socialism |
| Political position | Left-wing[1] |
| Colours | Purple |
| West Dunbartonshire Council | 1 / 22 |
The West Dunbartonshire Community Party is a minor left-wing political party involved in local government elections in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.[2][3] The party was formed in 2016 to contest the 2017 West Dunbartonshire Council election.
History
In 2016, the party was founded by Drew MacEoghainn along with other community activists. It was decided that the party should have no leader giving an equal say to all members.[4] The Scottish Socialist Party's only elected representative, Councillor Jim Bollan, and his independent colleague, Councillor George Black, joined the party.[5] The two councillors retained their existing designations until the council was dissolved in early 2017 in preparation for the election that May.
In the election, only Bollan was elected to represent the party, with Black losing his seat in Dumbarton ward.[6]
In March 2021, the party was deregistered from the Electoral Commission's Register of Political Parties; it was reregistered that May.[7][3]
Bollan retained his seat in the 2022 election.[8]
Policies
The party has been described as left-wing.[1] Its policy platform includes:[9][10]
- Support for nationalisation of public transport and other public services
- Opposition to education budget cuts
- Support for a unionised workforce
- Opposition to nuclear weapons
- Support for a fully funded health service.
- A plan to ensure that council houses make up at least 25% of houses on new developments
The party also says that most of its members support Scottish independence but they are "granted freedom to both express and back whatever view on Scottish Independence they so choose".[9]
The party opposes plans to build a Flamingo Land resort on Loch Lomond.[11]
References
- ^ a b Hannan, Martin (25 April 2017). "Going Local: New party emerges to carry on the left-wing tradition in West Dunbartonshire". The National.
Part of it was once known as Little Moscow when it was one of the first areas in the UK to elect a communist councillor, and now West Dunbartonshire is seeing the first foray onto the ballot paper of Scotland's newest leftist political party: the West Dunbartonshire Community Party is fielding four candidates on May 4.
- ^ "Local Government Elections - Notice of Poll" (DOC). www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk. West Dunbartonshire Council. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ a b "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Ferguson, Alan (20 May 2016). "New political party forms up to 'represent communities' of West Dunbartonshire". Clydebank Post. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Councillors Black and Bollan to form new West Dunbartonshire Community Party". Dumbarton Reporter. Newsquest Clyde & Forth Ltd. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "4 May 2017 Council Election Results". www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "West Dunbartonshire Council. Declaration of Results" (PDF). west-dunbarton.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ a b "POLICIES | West Dunbartonshire Community Party". West Dunbartonshire. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Beaton, Connor (4 May 2022). "Election 2022: Community Party aims to double headaches for council officials". Bella Caledonia. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Foulds, Jenny (1 May 2024). "West Dunbartonshire Council accused of "scandalous betrayal" by not opposing Flamingo Land plans". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 April 2025.