Group's independent ideas spread across the country (From Middlewich Guardian)
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Group's independent ideas spread across the country
10:41am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News By David Morgan
Members of Cheshire Independent Network with visitors from national independent groups
A GROUP which launched in Middlewich to protect local democracy has become the satellite branch of London’s Independent Network.
Cheshire Independent Network (CIN) has been adopted by the national organisation which supports councillors who are not affiliated with political parties.
The network has also forged links with the Independent Group of the Local Government Association after a meeting with the group’s leader Marianne Overton at the Boar’s Head.
CIN was formed by Middlewich First councillors Mike Parsons and Paul Edwards around six months ago with the intention of linking independent politicians from across the borough.
Clr Parsons, group secretary, said: “This was in order to provide the electorate with a solid democratic alternative to the now widely accepted decaying political system which has been failing the country for a long time.”
CIN is now widely represented from Disley and Bollington in the north to Shavington and Nantwich in the south.
It has become one of the largest independent movements in the UK, just six seats short of Labour in Cheshire East.
“That is because the electorate are sick and tired of being treated without the respect they deserve from those who they entrust with their vote,” added Clr Parsons.
“People deserve to be listened to and should receive true defence and representation of their views.
“That is what independents do, because we are all true members of the communities we serve and not self centred, self interested servants of a political whip.”
With its connections developing in west Cheshire, CIN is now set to expand even further and says its mission is to provide a ‘true democratic alternative’ across the whole of the county.
More than 98 per cent of the population are not members of a political party and yet there is currently only one directly elected independent MP – Sylvia Hermon.
To learn more about Cheshire Independent Network or if you want to help call Clr Parsons on 834942 or email mjparsons@btconnect.com.
