Christchurch Independents

@davemffc And my favourite ride at Universal!

Confirms what the then @BCPCouncil opposition Councillors & concerned residents have been saying for ages but the now defunct #Conservative Admin & their allies kept on denying despite the evidence. Tough road ahead for the new #3TownsAlliance & I hope residents will accept that.

🎥 An update from the Leader of BCP Council, Cllr Vikki Slade. A new administration, the Three Towns Alliance, will lead Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for the next term following tonight’s Annual Council meeting. Read more: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/news-article.a…

@LesleyMDedman @CIndependents We're just going to get that updated, thank you.

Thanks Adam. Very proud to sit with @davemffc in the chamber for his first meeting and looking forward to the communications, customer and culture portfolio. And a huge personal thank you for your support and wise counsel in past two years. Lots to do together on parish too!

Political parties to form new alliance administration at BCP Council bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23541053.…

@andym_editor @davemffc A great day Andy. Really excited to see what you can do with your cabinet portfolio. And chuffed to see Dave take his seat in council. But...does the football training partner have four legs...? 🐕

What a lovely atmosphere in the chamber for tonight’s @BCPCouncil Annual Meeting. Warm welcomes to new Cllrs, returning Cllrs and the public. Open, friendly and with promises of great things to come. Proud to be part of #3TownsAlliance #3TA @CIndependents

@AdamHighcliffe BCP looks in good hands. Congratulations to all.

And the family photo: the new administration.

@davemffc Next stop the Garden?

The big number now is 39: the seats needed for an outright council majority. With LibDems on 28, conversations will be taking place over the next 2 weeks to secure a clear stable majority coalition. After the chaos & scandals of the last 2 years, BCP residents deserve that. 9/9

In Christchurch, the CIs took 8/10 seats, the same tally as in 2019. It won some of the biggest majorities in BCP (the standout being a staggering vote share of 72% for its candidates in Highcliffe). The party has proved that it's here to stay. 6/

Ruby taking a healthy interest in the elections and apparently doing a bit more canvassing. @davemffc @AdamHighcliffe @CIndependents

As we head into the last few days of the election, it’s been absolutely brilliant to be on the campaign trail with @davemffc these past weeks. So I am biased obviously, but he has been amazing on the doorstep and in our numerous meetings with residents’ groups. @CIndependents

When I saw this I immediately thought of the old saying, “a leopard never changes its spots”. #LocalElections2023 theguardian.com/politics/2023/…

Either way, the saga throws more oil on the Highcliffe fire. With Brooks having won his seat as an indie before switching to the Conservatives, it would be understandable if residents would suspicious. This will certainly be one of the more interesting ward battles in May... 5/5

A showdown beckons at next week's Parish Council meeting. Nigel Brooks is a member and expected to attend. The Chair's agreed to make a statement on the matter, but any further discussion may be suppressed due to purdah. But will Brooks dare to turn up and risk public rebuke? 4/

What's certain is that Brooks has been forced to withdraw a batch of campaign leaflets from circulation, after their imprint was found to breach electoral law. It's not known how many leaflets were distributed, but I hear a number of complaints have been lodged about this. 3/

@AdamHighcliffe And being a member of the Conservative party in that time, only resigning from the party just over a week ago - after he submitted his nomination papers as an independent.