Kingston Independent Residents Group
Kingston Independent Residents Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair | James Giles |
| Founded | 16 February 2017 |
| Headquarters | 53 South Park Grove, New Malden, KT3 5DA, United Kingdom |
| Colours | Pink |
| Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council | 9 / 48 |
| Website | |
| kirg | |
The Kingston Independent Residents Group (KIRG) is a minor political party in the United Kingdom. Launched in 2017, it formed from a number of residents' groups in the area of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London.[1] At the time, the group claimed to be "proudly founded by those of all political persuasions and none". Sitting councillors Mary Clark and David Fraser defected from the Conservative Party prior to the 2018 election. The party promotes a local agenda that seeks to give residents, towns and parishes a greater say in the future of their town. They currently have two seats on Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council and form the main opposition group alongside two independent councillors.
They currently hold 9 council seats as of 2024.
Electoral history
Kingston Independent Residents Group fought their first local elections in May 2018, with 15 candidates standing for seats in the Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council.[2] They did not win any seats.[3]
They fielded nineteen candidates in the 2022 Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council election,[4] receiving 5% of the vote and winning a seat in Green Lane & St James Ward.[5]
On 10 November 2022, Kingston Independent Residents Group won their second seat on Kingston Council, gaining the second seat of the Green Lane & St James Ward from the Liberal Democrats in a by-election.[6]
In January 2024, KIRG councillor Yvonne Tracey announced her plan to contest the 2024 United Kingdom general election as a candidate in Kingston and Surbiton, challenging incumbent MP Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, in response to the ongoing Post Office scandal, for which Davey was the Under-Secretary for Postal Affairs between 2010-12.[7] Tracey lost her deposit, coming sixth with 2.3% of the vote.[8]
References
- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Kingston Independent Residents Group: the new political party in Kingston". 10 January 2018.
- ^ Admin (3 May 2018). "Election results by Wards, 3 May 2018". www.kingston.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Statement of Nominated Persons: Kingston Council 2022 Local Elections".
- ^ Admin (5 May 2022). "Election results by party, 5 May 2022". www.kingston.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Dalton, Emily (14 November 2022). "Kingston Independent Residents Group wins Green Lane and St James Ward by-election". Kingston Courier. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "New Malden ex-postmistress aims to stand against Sir Ed Davey". BBC News. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Kingston and Surbiton - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
