Community Group

Community Group was a British political party in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, founded in 2001.[1] The Community Group had four councillors serving on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council in 2009. There were no Community Group councillors elected at the most recent election to Doncaster Council in 2017. The party deregistered in 2018.

This article is about the political party in Doncaster. For the general concept, see Community organizing. For the party in Hounslow, see The Community Group (London Borough of Hounslow). For the Jonathan Jones album, see Community Group (album).

The party was founded in the wake of a political scandal dubbed "Donnygate" that saw 21 Doncaster councillors convicted of expenses fraud from 1997.[2] The party had 6 borough councillors in Doncaster in 2001.[3] Party leader Martin Williams contested Doncaster North at the 2005 general election against Ed Miliband, receiving 2,365 votes (7.5%, in fourth place).[4] Jessie Credland stood for election as Mayor of Doncaster for the party in 2005, coming fourth with 10,263 votes (9.4%).[5] Garth Oxby defected to become an independent in May 2005 following a deal made with the Labour group for Community Group councillors to be given positions chairing council committees,[6] a deal repeated the following year.[7] Richard Walker and Jessie Credland also later left to sit as independent members. The party lost John Cooke's seat to Labour in 2007.[8] In 2007, the party also had 10 town councillors.[9]

Former Doncaster English Democrats Mayor Peter Davies was associated with the group.[10] The Community Group's own candidate, Stuart Exelby, formerly a Labour councillor and deputy mayor from 2008–9,[11] received 2152 votes.[12] Martin Williams said of his election, "I am happy about this,"[12] but in February 2010 said that "I think the mayoral system is in tatters... It has been tried and failed."[13]

See also

References
  1. "Community Group, The". Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  2. Parker, Simon (29 April 2002). "Leaving the legacy of Donnygate". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  3. Parker, Simon (21 September 2001). "Shakeup to clean up Doncaster". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  4. "Result: Doncaster North". Election 2005. BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  5. Dunlop, Emma (7 May 2005). "Town's Mayor clings on after contest goes to second count". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  6. "Council cabinet 'stitch up' claim". Doncaster Free Press. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  7. "Lib dem and Indie councillors furious at being frozen out". Doncaster Free Press. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  8. Smith, Anna (5 May 2007). "Local Elections: Small groups hold balance in hung city". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  9. "Community Group Statement of Accounts 2007" (PDF). Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  10. Wainwright, Martin (7 June 2009). "English Democrat flies the red and white flag in Doncaster". The Observer. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  11. "PROFILE: Stuart Exelby". Doncaster Free Press. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  12. Jones, David (4 June 2009). "Peter Davies is Doncaster's new elected mayor". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  13. "Doncaster's mayoral system 'in tatters'". Doncaster Star. South Yorkshire. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.


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