Community Group

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Community Group was a British political party in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, founded in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=231&frmType=partydetail|title=Community Group, The|work=Register of political parties|publisher=Electoral Commission|accessdate=8 February 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120713190543/http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=231&frmType=partydetail|archivedate=13 July 2012}} 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.

The party was founded in the wake of a political scandal dubbed "Donnygate" that saw 21 Doncaster councillors convicted of expenses fraud from 1997.{{cite news|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/localgovernment/comment/0,,707292,00.html|title=Leaving the legacy of Donnygate|last=Parker|first=Simon|date=29 April 2002|work=The Guardian|accessdate=8 February 2010}} The party had 6 borough councillors in Doncaster in 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/sep/21/politics.localgovernment1|title=Shakeup to clean up Doncaster|last=Parker|first=Simon|date=21 September 2001|work=The Guardian|accessdate=8 February 2010}} Party leader Martin Williams contested Doncaster North at the 2005 general election against Ed Miliband, receiving 2,365 votes (7.5%, in fourth place).{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/195.stm|title=Result: Doncaster North|work=Election 2005|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=8 February 2010}} Jessie Credland stood for election as Mayor of Doncaster for the party in 2005, coming fourth with 10,263 votes (9.4%).{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Town39s-Mayor-clings-on-after.1020733.jp|title=Town's Mayor clings on after contest goes to second count|last=Dunlop|first=Emma|date=7 May 2005|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=8 February 2010}} 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,{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-news/COUNCIL-CABINET-STITCH-UP39-CLAIM.1036966.jp|title=Council cabinet 'stitch up' claim|date=26 May 2005|work=Doncaster Free Press|accessdate=8 February 2010}} a deal repeated the following year.{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-news/LIB-DEM-AND-INDIE-COUNCILLORS.1524695.jp|title=Lib dem and Indie councillors furious at being frozen out|date=25 May 2006|work=Doncaster Free Press|accessdate=8 February 2010}} Richard Walker and Jessie Credland also later left to sit as independent members. The party lost John Cooke's seat to Labour in 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/election/Local-Elections-Small-groups-hold.2857118.jp|title=Local Elections: Small groups hold balance in hung city|last=Smith|first=Anna|date=5 May 2007|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=8 February 2010}} In 2007, the party also had 10 town councillors.{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/49405/Community-Group-The-Statement-of-Accounts-2007_29163-21634__E__N__S__W__.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20080729001605/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/49405/Community-Group-The-Statement-of-Accounts-2007_29163-21634__E__N__S__W__.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2008|title=Community Group Statement of Accounts 2007|work=Electoral Commission|accessdate=8 February 2010}}

Former Doncaster English Democrats Mayor Peter Davies was associated with the group.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/07/english-democrats-doncaster-union-flag|title=English Democrat flies the red and white flag in Doncaster|last=Wainwright|first=Martin|date=7 June 2009|work=The Observer|accessdate=8 February 2010}} The Community Group's own candidate, Stuart Exelby, formerly a Labour councillor and deputy mayor from 2008–9,{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/15745/PROFILE-Stuart-Exelby.5312633.jp|title=PROFILE: Stuart Exelby|date=28 May 2009|work=Doncaster Free Press|accessdate=8 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612212509/http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/15745/PROFILE-Stuart-Exelby.5312633.jp|archive-date=12 June 2009|url-status=dead}} received 2152 votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/15745/Peter-Davies-is-Doncaster39s-new.5334454.jp|title=Peter Davies is Doncaster's new elected mayor|last=Jones|first=David|date=4 June 2009|work=Doncaster Free Press|accessdate=8 February 2010}} Martin Williams said of his election, "I am happy about this," but in February 2010 said that "I think the mayoral system is in tatters... It has been tried and failed."{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Doncaster39s-mayoral-system-39in-tatters39.6042929.jp|title=Doncaster's mayoral system 'in tatters'|date=4 February 2010|work=Doncaster Star|accessdate=8 February 2010|location=South Yorkshire}}