Independents 4 Change

{{Infobox political party

| country = the Republic of Ireland

| name = Independents 4 Change

| logo = Independents 4 Change logo.png

| leader =

| foundation = {{start date|2014}}

| dissolution =

| headquarters = 21 Elmwood Drive, Swords, Dublin

| website =

| ideology = Socialism{{cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/ireland.html|title=Ireland|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|year=2020|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107051350/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/ireland.html|url-status=live}}
Anti-neoliberalism{{cite web | title=Independents 4 Change | website=The Left in the European Parliament | date=2021-08-03 | url=https://left.eu/groups/delegation/independents-4-change/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024083351/https://left.eu/groups/delegation/independents-4-change/ | archive-date=2021-10-24 | url-status=dead | access-date=2024-10-04}}
Antimilitarism

| position = Left-wing{{cite web | title=Ireland | website=Europe Elects | date=2024-08-22 | url=https://europeelects.eu/ireland/ | access-date=2024-10-08}}

| europarl =

| colorcode = {{party color|Independents 4 Change}}

| seats1_title = Local government

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|1|949|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

}}

Independents 4 Change{{cite web |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/regpolpart_16102015.pdf |title=Register of Political Parties |work=The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties |date=16 October 2015 |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024402/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/regpolpart_16102015.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=dead}} is an Irish political alliance, with registration as a political party, comprising several independent politicians.{{cite book |editor1-last=Escalona |editor1-first=Fabien |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe |date=2023 |publisher=Springer |pages=353–355}} It had two MEPs in the Ninth European Parliament: Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

History

File:I4C MEPs 2019.jpg

The political grouping registered as a political party in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/IR140314.pdf|title=Iris Oifigiúil, 14th March 2014|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-date=21 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032252/http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/IR140314.pdf|url-status=live}} It was previously known as the "Independents for Equality" Movement.

Four candidates contested the 2014 local elections for the group in each of the local electoral areas in Wexford County Council.{{cite web|url=http://adriankavanaghelections.org/2013/07/02/non-party-candidates-for-the-2014-local-elections/|title=Non Party/Independent candidates for the 2014 Local Elections|work=Adrian Kavanagh – Irish Elections: Geography, Facts and Analyses|date=2 July 2013|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520115156/http://adriankavanaghelections.org/2013/07/02/non-party-candidates-for-the-2014-local-elections/|url-status=live}} None of them were elected.

The party adopted its current name in September 2015, after the establishment of the Right2Change electoral alliance, which its candidates in the 2016 general election subscribed.

Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Joan Collins,{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/754224-joan-collins/|title=Joan Collins|date=February 2016|work=Election 2016|publisher=RTÉ.ie|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209032438/http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/754224-joan-collins/|url-status=live}} and Tommy Broughan,{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/754499-tommy-broughan/|title=Tommy Broughan|date=February 2016|work=Election 2016|publisher=RTÉ.ie|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209024130/http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/754499-tommy-broughan/|url-status=live}} and councillor Barry Martin{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/party/47/independents-4-change/|title=Independents 4 Change|work=TheJournal.ie|access-date=6 February 2016|archive-date=2 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302014821/http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/party/47/independents-4-change/|url-status=live}} contested the 2016 general election for Independents 4 Change, with Broughan, Collins, Daly and Wallace being elected.

Within the 32nd Dáil, I4C took advantage of revised Dáil standing orders to form their own technical group, which also included three Independent TDs who were not members of the party itself: Catherine Connolly, Thomas Pringle, and Maureen O'Sullivan.Mick Wallace (14 April 2016). {{cite web |url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2016041400039 |title=Housing Issues: Statements |date=14 April 2016 |work=Dáil Debates |publisher=Oireachtas |volume=906 |issue=4 |page=39 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603101057/http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2016041400039 |archive-date=3 June 2016}}{{cite web|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410100146/http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&PartyID=56|title=Dáil Éireann Members' Directory - 32nd Dáil - Independents 4 Change|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&PartyID=56|access-date=1 May 2016|url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}{{cite news |last=Bardon |first=Sarah |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ministers-told-they-must-seek-permission-to-miss-d%C3%A1il-votes-over-delicate-voting-situation-1.2667751 |title=Ministers told they must seek permission to miss Dáil votes over 'delicate voting situation' |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602125538/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ministers-told-they-must-seek-permission-to-miss-d%C3%A1il-votes-over-delicate-voting-situation-1.2667751 |url-status=live}}

Tommy Broughan left the party on 26 July 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&PartyId=56|work=Oireachtas Members Database|title=Independents 4 Change members of the 32nd Dáil|date=6 April 2018|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410100146/http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&PartyID=56|url-status=live}}{{failed verification|date=April 2019}} In 2016 Ruth Nolan, a member of South Dublin County Council for Lucan who had been elected for People Before Profit, joined Independents 4 Change.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

At the 2019 European Parliament election, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace were elected as MEPs; they became part of The Left group in the European Parliament. Three councilors were elected for Independents 4 Change in the local elections held on the same day, including former Labour TD from Sligo, and longtime Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree.

In the February 2020 general election, Independents 4 Change returned one TD, Joan Collins in Dublin South-Central. However, she soon left I4C to found a new party called Right to Change, leaving I4C with no TDs.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/dublin-td-joan-collins-leaves-i4c-to-found-new-party-right-to-change-8cf70tw9b|title=Dublin TD Joan Collins leaves I4C to found new party Right to Change|work=The Times|date=31 May 2020|last1=McCarthy|first1=Justine|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625084606/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dublin-td-joan-collins-leaves-i4c-to-found-new-party-right-to-change-8cf70tw9b|url-status=live}}

Neither Daly nor Wallace were re-elected in the 2024 European elections. Dean Mulligan was re-elected as a councillor for the Swords electoral area on Fingal County Council.

In addition to Mulligan,{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/fingal-east-election-2024-who-are-the-candidates-and-who-could-make-gains-everything-you-need-to-know-before-voting/a1927484560.html | website = independent.ie | title = Fingal East Election 2024: Who are the candidates and who could make gains? Everything you need to know before voting | date = 8 November 2024 }} Wallace and Daly contested the 2024 Irish general election;{{cite web|url = https://www.breakingnews.ie/general-election-2024/mick-wallace-to-contest-the-general-election-in-wexford-1696057.html | website = breakingnews.ie | title = Mick Wallace to contest the general election in Wexford | date = 15 November 2024 }} None were elected.{{cite web|url = https://electionsireland.org/party.cfm?election=2024&party=I4C&order=ConstituencyName&elected=no | website = electionsireland.org | title = Candidates by Party - 2024 General Election - Independents 4 Change | accessdate = 3 December 2024 }}

Election results

=General elections=

class="wikitable"
Election ! Seats won ! ± ! Position ! First pref. votes ! % ! Government
2016 \| {{Composition bar\|4\|158\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{increase}} 4 \| {{steady}} 6th \| 31,365 \| 1.5% \| {{na\|text=Fine Gael – Independents}} with Fianna Fáil confidence & supply
2020 \| {{Composition bar\|1\|160\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{decrease}} 3 \| {{decrease}} 9th \| 8,421 \| 0.4% \| {{na\|text=Fianna Fáil – Fine Gael – Green Party}}
2024 \| {{Composition bar\|0\|174\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{decrease}} 1 \| {{decrease}} 14th \| 5,166 \| 0.2% \| style="background:#ffd;"\|No Seats

class="wikitable"

Election

! Seats won

! ±

! Position

! First pref. votes

! %

! Government

2016

| {{Composition bar|4|158|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{increase}} 4

| {{steady}} 6th

| 31,365

| 1.5%

| {{na|text=Fine Gael – Independents}}
with Fianna Fáil confidence & supply

2020

| {{Composition bar|1|160|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{decrease}} 3

| {{decrease}} 9th

| 8,421

| 0.4%

| {{na|text=Fianna Fáil – Fine Gael – Green Party}}

2024

| {{Composition bar|0|174|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{decrease}} 1

| {{decrease}} 14th

| 5,166

| 0.2%

| style="background:#ffd;"|No Seats

=Local elections=

class="wikitable"
Election ! Seats won ! ± ! First pref. votes ! %
2014 \| {{Composition bar\|0\|949\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{steady}} \| 1,828 \| 0.1%
2019 \| {{Composition bar\|3\|949\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{increase}} 3 \| 8,626 \| 0.5%
2024 \| {{Composition bar\|1\|949\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{decrease}} 2 \| 3,537 \| 0.2%

class="wikitable"

Election

! Seats won

! ±

! First pref. votes

! %

2014

| {{Composition bar|0|949|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{steady}}

| 1,828

| 0.1%

2019

| {{Composition bar|3|949|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{increase}} 3

| 8,626

| 0.5%

2024

| {{Composition bar|1|949|hex={{party color|Independents 4 Change}}}}

| {{decrease}} 2

| 3,537

| 0.2%

=European Parliament=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! Election ! Leader ! 1st pref Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/− ! EP Group
2019 \| rowspan="2" \|Collective leadership \| 124,085 \| 7.39% (#5) \| {{Composition bar\|2\|13\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| New \| The Left
2024 \| 79,658 \| 4.58% (#7) \| {{Composition bar\|0\|14\|hex={{party color\|Independents 4 Change}}}} \| {{decrease}} 2 \| −

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! Election

! Leader

! 1st pref
Votes

! %

! Seats

! +/−

! EP Group

2019

| rowspan="2" |Collective leadership

| 124,085

| 7.39% (#5)