Sean Halsall, Southport Community Independents
The ex-Labour, now independent, councillor for Kew ward, Sefton, became known as the voice of Southport during the summer 2024 far-right riots. Southport Community Independents, who plan to launch as a registered party by March, are running local assemblies to gather policy ideas, involve the unengaged and create pathways from resident to activist. They aim to empower the grassroots and combat far-right influence through community initiatives, while developing electoral strategies with other left groups – working to align with or join a potential national umbrella organisation or federal party structure with regional representation.
Greg Marshall, Broxtowe Alliance
The deputy leader of Broxtowe borough council in Nottinghamshire, Marshall is part of a recently formed group of 20 independent councillors with a range of views. They maintain relationships with the trades council, Socialist Society and other left groups, collaborating on campaigns including Stand up to Racism, WASPI women and Palestine. Their public meetings on local issues have revealed the strong potential – and challenges – for building an independent movement based on community organising and wealth building. The experience has prompted the group to explore how they might form a formal umbrella organisation for independent groups across the country to share successes and learn from others.
Eric Barnes, Social Justice Party (SJP), Scarborough and Whitby
The former chair of the local constituency Labour Party, Barnes now chairs the Social Justice Party (SJP), formed by supporters of ex-Labour councillor Tony Randerson across two neighbouring constituencies. Bringing together rank-and file trade union struggles, environmental campaigns, anti-austerity, anti-racist and pro-Palestine activism, the SJP is holding small democratic conferences in advance of town council elections in May. On the table are making alliances with other progressive candidates to counter Reform, building support in the community and merging with or affiliating to a bigger group to build a new, unequivocally socialist UK party that is committed to democratic practices and accountable to members.
Hannah Barker, Collective Action Brighton and Hove (CAB)
A limited company, not yet a registered party, CAB was set up following the parliamentary campaign of independent socialist Palestinian-heritage candidate Tanushka Marah. With CAB, Barker is exploring ways to affiliate with a potential new, national left party while maintaining local identity. Its priority is to promote inclusion, solidarity and unity among diverse groups within local communities – involving a range of social movements in policy-making rather than dictating to them. Managing different opinions, particularly when dealing with passionate individuals and young people who often feel unheard and undervalued, can be challenging. CAB is giving them space in meetings and encouraging them to lead.
Alan Gibbons, Liverpool Community Independents
The councillor for Orrell Park and member of Transform Politics – a national initiative towards a new political party – has sights set on a new, broad left-wing political party with a popular platform. It would stand to address issues such as climate change, marketisation, public ownership, democratic control, racism, sexism and minority rights while engaging with local community members and trade unionists to build support for socialist initiatives – talking to people in a human, relatable way, not jargon-ridden or focused on differentiating themselves. It would make electoral agreements at the local level – as with Greens in Liverpool Garston – and reach out to people not aligned to any political party, disillusioned and watching GB News.
Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North Peoples’ Forum (INPF)
Founded by the former Labour leader, INPF is creating conditions for a new socialist party with inclusive democratic structures by encouraging independent groups such as those in Broxtowe, Liverpool and Oxford. It aims to organically build a collective left voice on common positions, campaigning in key areas such as social justice, the environment and global peace, providing mutual endorsements in upcoming local elections and supporting the Independent Alliance group of MPs.
Claudi Turbet-Belof, Hackney Independent Socialists
Turbet-Delof is one of three independent socialist councillors in the London borough, where people’s forums are gathering input on residents’ priorities, including housing, school closures, transport, workers’ rights and democratic participation. As independents, they bring opposition business to council and are working to put union and residents’ representatives onto scrutiny committees. While collaborating with the Greens on by-election strategy, their priority is to work with grassroots groups to build a broad movement drawing on Latin American models – a coalition rather than a party.
Louise Lewis, Kirklees Alliance Of Resistance
An active member of a developing, broad coalition in Yorkshire – including anti-war activists, trade unionists, climate and anti-cuts campaigners, women’s groups, LGBTQ+, Black Lives Matter and other political movement members, independent councillors and their allies – Lewis recognises the need to build accountability and democracy into internal decision-making, so that elected representatives are called to account. The alliance is organising a unity conference in the spring, aiming to create a grassroots body that can plan collaborative work in the 2026 local elections and contribute to formation of a national left party.
