Blue Revolution is a British political party based in Boston, Lincolnshire. It was founded in 2017 by former Conservative Boston borough councillor, Mike Gilbert.[1][2] The party aims to give many people, from various backgrounds, the chance to run in elections, without traditional party structures. It tries to achieve this by giving anyone who endorses the party's core values of "Contract", "Choice" and "Consent" the ability to use its logo, branding and party material.[3]
Blue Revolution | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Rosalyn Parker-Lee |
| Founder | Mike Gilbert |
| Founded | 16 March 2017 |
| Headquarters | 22 Tower Street, Boston, Lincs, PE21 8RX |
| Ideology | Localism Non-partisan democracy "Small State Socialism" |
| Political position | Syncretic |
| Colors | Blue |
| Boston Borough Council | 1 / 30
|
| Website | |
| abluerevolution | |
History
editIt was founded in 2017 to "give blue collar workers more representation" in a political system that founder Mike Gilbert viewed as being too elitist and tribal. Gilbert stood as a candidate for Boston and Skegness in the general election of that year.[4] He came last with 0.7% of the vote.[5]
In 2019, the party formed an alliance with the Bostonian Independent Group for the local election that May, in an effort to tackle issues such as fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.[6] None of Blue Revolutions candidates were elected.[7]
The party stood in five divisions under the name "For the People not the Party" in the 2021 Lincolnshire County Council election but didn't get any councillors elected.[8][9]
In the 2023 Boston Borough Council election, the party gained one councillor with Gilbert taking one of two seats available in Staniland Ward.[10][11]
Gilbert stood in Boston and Skegness for a second time, in the 2024 general election.[12] He was unsuccessful in winning the seat, receiving 1% of the vote.[13]
Manifesto
editBlue Revolution describes itself as "The home of small state socialism" and "not a traditional right or left-wing platform". Instead it views itself as a brand identity, that avoids the bureaucracy of traditional parties.[3] The party believes that the British political system has failed for the past 40 years, with negative effects including the Iraq War, the sale of council houses, the introduction of university tuition fees, and excessive consumerism.[14][15]
Although it intends for its elected candidates to be functionally independent, it does have a manifesto built around 5 broad aims:
- Raise awareness of the need to end party based political systems, including banning whipping.
- To increase the power of people and reduce the power of the "state-funded elite".
- To reduce elitism and unfairness through the principles of "Contract", "Choice" and "Consent".
- Build an economy that is not based on debt.
- Reducing demand to reverse environmental destruction and ending the use of economic growth as an objective for policy.[16]
References
edit- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Vive la (Blue) Revolution? New party aims to make radical changes to democracy". Lincolnshire World. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Constitution – A Blue Revolution". Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Britain's smallest parties: Meet A Blue Revolution". www.shropshirestar.com. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Boston & Skegness parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "New group formed to tackle issues "plaguing" Boston". Lincolnshire Live. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2019 - Boston". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Whitelam, Paul (27 April 2021). "Lincolnshire County Council candidates standing for election in Boston set out their stalls". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2021 - Lincolnshire". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Borough Council Elections 2023". Boston Borough Council. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Boston Borough Council May 2023 election results: Conservatives lose majority as new political group triumphs". Lincolnshire World. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "2024 General Election Candidates". Boston Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Boston and Skegness - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "A Blue Revolution – The Platform for Ending Party Politics". Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Redford, Chrissie (3 July 2024). "ELECTION 24: Make you mind up time in Boston and Skegness constituency". Lincolnshire World. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Manifesto – A Blue Revolution". Retrieved 13 April 2024.