Community Action Party
{{short description|Defunct political party in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox political party
|name = Community Action Party
|logo = File:Community Action Party 1.png
| colorcode = #33FF33
| leader = Michael Moulding
| chairman = Bill Burrows
| foundation = March 2002
| ideology = Environmentalism
Localism
| position = Centre-left
| headquarters = Golborne, Greater Manchester, England
| international =
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/2019*/http://www.community-action.com/ www.community-action.com] (archived)
| country = the United Kingdom
| leader1_title = Treasurer
| leader1_name = Tracy Lavelle
| european =
| europarl =
| colours =
}}
The Community Action Party was a minor political party in the United Kingdom, mostly active in Greater Manchester and Merseyside. It advocated free health care and education provision, a managed public transport infrastructure free to all at the point of use and a moratorium on the use of green belt land for building. It also supported a zero tolerance policy toward crime, and was against the introduction of identity cards and recent anti-terrorist legislation on civil liberties grounds.
In 2004 the party made a breakthrough in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, winning 18 seats, a gain of 13. The party later suffered a split, defections, and a loss of councillors in elections, reducing their number of councillors in Wigan Borough to five.{{Cite web|url=http://rylands.wigan.gov.uk/councillordetails/template.aspx?LETTER=All&INDEX=-1|title=Councillor Details|work=Wigan Council|accessdate=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810121329/http://rylands.wigan.gov.uk/councillordetails/template.aspx?LETTER=All&INDEX=-1|archive-date=10 August 2009|url-status=dead}} They slowly expanded outside the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan into the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens,{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/5125892.stm|title=Ex-leader in vote expenses probe|date=28 June 2006|work=BBC News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} the City of Salford, where they gained a seat in 2008, and Warrington Borough.
Founding
The party was founded in March 2002 by Peter Franzen, a construction industry professional originally from Liverpool and now living in Golborne. The candidates stood on a platform of zero tolerance of crime and improved facilities for young people.{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/elections/article387531.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604142002/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/elections/article387531.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Westminster? That's the last place I want to go|last=Whitworth|first=Damien|date=2 May 2005|work=The Times|accessdate=12 January 2010|location=London}} Community Action councillors have a free vote on any issue as the party does not impose a whip,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/jun/23/guardiansocietysupplement.localgovernment|title=Pier pressure|last=MacNamara|first=Helen|date=23 June 2004|work=The Guardian|location=London|accessdate=12 January 2010}} and includes former supporters of all three main parties.
Electoral history
{{Further|Wigan local elections}}
The party put up candidates in four constituencies in the 2005 general election. It won no representation in the House of Commons, but had a number of councillors in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. In 2004 it made a large break through in Wigan Borough winning 18 seats, a gain of 13. They formed the official opposition group, the 'Democratic Alliance', with their ten councillors joining the Liberal Democrats' three in May 2007,{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/All-change-at-council-with.2876762.jp|title=All change at council with new alliance|date=15 May 2007|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}} but the grouping disbanded in July 2009.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Council-opposition-party-disbands.5461103.jp|title=Council opposition party disbands|last=Bean|first=Richard|date=15 July 2009|work=Wigan Evening Post|accessdate=12 January 2010}} They supported the Green Party in the North-West region in the 2009 European elections.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stopnickgriffin.org.uk/sites/stopnickgriffin/blog/2009-05-28-community-action-party.html|title=Community Action Party backs Peter|date=27 May 2009|work=Stop Nick Griffin|publisher=Green Party|accessdate=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603161540/http://www.stopnickgriffin.org.uk/sites/stopnickgriffin/blog/2009-05-28-community-action-party.html|archive-date=3 June 2009|url-status=dead}}
=2002 local election=
=2003 local election=
{{Main|Wigan Council election, 2003}}
The party stood 11 candidates in Wigan Borough, and took three seats from Labour, becoming the largest opposition party with five councillors.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/57/57629_wigan_.html|title=Wigan|last=Frame|first=Don|date=2 May 2003|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
=2004 local election=
{{Main|Wigan Council election, 2004}}
The party stood 48 candidates in Wigan Borough, winning a total of 18 seats in Makerfield Constituency and becoming the official opposition on the council.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/119/119939_fortress_labour_rocked_by_wigan_minnows.html|title=Fortress Labour rocked by Wigan minnows|last=Frame|first=Don|date=11 June 2004|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3796633.stm|title=Labour licks wounds after polls|date=11 June 2004|work=BBC News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} After the election the Labour leader of the council Peter Smith argued that "They are essentially a negative party, good at coming up with issues to campaign on, but not very good at finding solutions."{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/3812695.stm|title=The rise and rise of minor parties|last=Fordham|first=Elizabeth|work=Politics Show North West|publisher=BBC|accessdate=12 January 2010 | date=18 June 2004}}
=2005 general election=
Franzen stood in Makerfield against Ian McCartney, deputy chairman of the Labour Party, and the party stood three other candidates. Franzen received 2,769 votes (7.8%).{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/elections/article519616.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604142035/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/elections/article519616.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=What happened to the local heroes who fought the toughest of battles?|last=Whitworth|first=Damien|date=7 May 2005|work=The Times|accessdate=12 January 2010|location=London}} Ian Franzen stood in Leigh, receiving 2,189 votes (6.0%).{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/10373/ian-franzen|title=Ian Franzen|work=The Guardian|accessdate=12 January 2010 | location=London}} Former Labour council leader Mike Hughes received 573 votes in Warrington North (1.4%).{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/611.stm|title=Result: Warrington North|date=6 May 2005|work=BBC News|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
=2006 local election=
{{Main|Wigan Council election, 2006}}
The CAP lost three seats in Makerfield to Labour.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/212/212336_election_2006_wigan___lab_hold.html|title=Election 2006: Wigan – Lab hold|last=Frame|first=Don|date=5 May 2006|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
=2007 local election=
The party held two seats and gained one from Community Performance First, but lost two seats to Labour.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/le2007/10_wigan |title=2007 Election results in Wigan |date=May 2007 |work=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=12 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706181220/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/le2007/10_wigan |archivedate=6 July 2008 }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1006/1006192_labour_make_gains_in_wigan.html|title=Labour make gains in Wigan|date=4 May 2007|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} They stood four candidates in St. Helens,{{Cite news|url=http://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/st-helens-news/Election-results-in-full.2854347.jp|title=Election results in full|date=4 May 2007|work=St. Helens Reporter|accessdate=12 January 2010}} and two in Salford.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/le2007/9_salford |title=2007 Election results in Salford |work=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=12 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725071709/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/le2007/9_salford |archivedate=25 July 2008 }}
=2008 local election=
{{Main|Wigan Council election, 2008}}
The party held two seats in Makerfield, but lost Peter Franzen's seat in Golborne and Lowton West to Labour by 76 votes,{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Franzen-out.4045217.jp|title=Franzen out|date=2 May 2008|work=Wigan Evening Post|accessdate=12 January 2010}} and another seat to the Conservatives,{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/10_wigan |title=Election results in Wigan |date=1 May 2008 |work=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=12 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517122900/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local_elections/10_wigan |archivedate=17 May 2008 }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1048016_labour_hold_on_to_wigan|title=Labour hold on to Wigan|last=Frame|first=Don|date=2 May 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} resulting in their Democratic Alliance group losing its status as the official opposition group.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Big-names-fall-in-local.4044444.jp?CommentPage=3|title=Big names fall in local elections|last=Bean|first=Richard|date=2 May 2008|work=Wigan Evening Post|accessdate=12 January 2010}} The Labour Party made a complaint to the police about a YouTube video posted by one of the CAP councillors, Ed Houlton, about a former Labour mayor the day before the May elections,{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1065795_police_probe_web_slur|title=Police probe web 'slur'|last=Keeling|first=Neal|date=8 September 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} but no charges were brought.{{Cite news|url=http://www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1084633_no_case_against_cap_councillor |title=No case against CAP councillor |date=11 December 2008 |work=Salford Advertiser |accessdate=12 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111180156/http://www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1084633_no_case_against_cap_councillor |archivedate=11 January 2009 }}
In Salford's Irlam ward, their candidate Rick Houlton unseated Roger Jones, the Labour chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. The CAP opposed the congestion charge for Manchester that was proposed by Jones.{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3876978.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725112924/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3876978.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2008|title=Manchester polls deal blow to congestion charge expansion|last=Webster|first=Ben|date=6 May 2008|work=The Times|accessdate=12 January 2010|location=London}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1048022_setbacks_for_labour_in_salford|title=Setbacks for Labour in Salford|last=Keeling|first=Neal|date=2 May 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} Peel Holdings, a Manchester property company, commissioned a market research company to call people in Irlam ward about the congestion charge plan in November 2007. In January 2008, Peel met with the Liberal Democrats and Community Action Party to discuss how they could help them defeat councillors who were backing the congestion charge.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1057820_police_probe_peel_over_election|title=Police probe Peel over election|last=Keeling|first=Neal|date=11 July 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} A police investigation was launched over a possible breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983, but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1095683_no_action_over_peel_ballot_claim|title=No action over Peel ballot claim|last=Keeling|first=Neal|date=10 February 2009|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}} Houlton was criticised for his low council meeting attendance, which he said was due to working nights.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1072449_cap_councillors_attendance_row|title=CAP councillor's attendance row|last=Keeling|first=Neal|date=15 October 2008|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
Split and defections
The Community Performance First Party was registered with the Electoral Commission in 2006 by three CAP councillors ahead of the local elections, who said that they would still stand as CAP candidates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/apr/06/northerner.martinwainwright|title=Where sheep now safely graze|last=Wainwright|first=Martin|date=6 April 2006|work=The Guardian|accessdate=12 January 2010 | location=London}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Councillors-form-new-party.1420839.jp|title=Councillors form new party|date=4 April 2006|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}} They were expelled from the party in April 2006, less than a month before the local elections, and the CAP took legal action to prevent them using the CAP logo.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/CAP-rebels-fight-bid-to.1449959.jp|title=CAP rebels fight bid to oust them|date=18 April 2006|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/CAP-expels-rival-councillors.1430571.jp|title=CAP expels rival councillors|date=7 April 2006|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
An Ashton in Makerfield councillor defected to the independent group in May 2007, followed by a Winstanley councillor in May 2008.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Bryn-councillor-defects-to-Independant.4067860.jp|title=Bryn councillor defects to {{sic|Inde|pendant|nolink=yes|expected=Independent}} group|last=Bean|first=Richard|date=9 May 2008|work=Wigan Evening Post|accessdate=12 January 2010}} A Leigh councillor defected to the Conservative Party in January 2009, which made the Conservatives the official opposition group on Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Tory-joy-as-councillor-switches.4879798.jp|title=Tory joy as councillor switches allegiance|last=Bean|first=Richard|date=15 January 2009|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}} A further defection to the independent group occurred in May 2009.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Councillor-defects.5261201.jp|title=Councillor defects|last=Bean|first=Richard|date=13 May 2009|work=Wigan Today|accessdate=12 January 2010}}
On 7 February 2014 it was announced that Mike Moulding had reregistered the political party. This was after the founder and leader of the party, Peter Franzen, had lapsed the party the previous year. Since then the founder and the new leader have been in a battle over the rights of the name.{{cite web| url = http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/party-is-relaunched-as-leader-vows-to-return-1-6424961| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140330143940/http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/party-is-relaunched-as-leader-vows-to-return-1-6424961| archive-date = 2014-03-30| title = Party is relaunched as leader vows to return – Wigan Today}} The party was deregistered again in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP2232|title = View registration – the Electoral Commission}}