Whilst (I believe) the local parties have already selected their candidates for next May's elections, there's still plenty of time to stand as an independent.
Permalink Reply by Hugh on October 25, 2009 at 10:38
Staying on the theme of independent councillors, here are the views of Colin Copus, professor of local politics at De Montfort University and director of the Local Governance Research Unit. He believes that they benefit local democracy by offering :
an antidote to the nationalising effects on local politics of its domination by the main political parties.
relief from the downside effects of party discipline and a consequent freedom to shift away from what he calls "a stilted, theatrical and often overly confrontational political performance".