Mexborough First

The party was founded in 2014 by Andrew Pickering, who had previously run for election as an independent in 2012. The party had emerged out of a local campaign against a supermarket being built in the town.{{cite web |last=Bradley |first=Mark |date=3 May 2017 |title=The story behind Mexborough First: an independent party in South Yorkshire |url=https://www.jusnews.net/the-story-behind-mexborough-first-an-independent-party-in-south-yorkshire/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131051049/https://www.jusnews.net/the-story-behind-mexborough-first-an-independent-party-in-south-yorkshire/ |archive-date=31 January 2021 |access-date=23 January 2021 |website=JUS News}}{{Cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://mexboroughfirst.org.uk/candidates/ |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Mexborough First}}

The party first contested an election in the 2014 Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council election, where Pickering gained the Mexborough ward from Labour.{{cite web|last=Council|first=Doncaster|title=Local Elections 2014 – Doncaster Council|url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/local-elections-2014|access-date=3 March 2021|website=www.doncaster.gov.uk}}

Starting in the 2015 Borough Council election, Mexborough had three council seats to contest, all of which were won by Mexborough First. This led to the party becoming the third largest on the council behind Labour and the Conservatives.{{cite web|last=Council|first=Doncaster|title=Local Elections 2015 – Doncaster Council|url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/local-elections-2015|access-date=3 March 2021|website=www.doncaster.gov.uk}}

The party held their three seats in the 2017 election,{{cite web|last=Council|first=Doncaster|title=Local Elections 2017 – Doncaster Council|url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/local-elections-2017|access-date=3 March 2021|website=www.doncaster.gov.uk}} and did so again in the 2021 election.{{Cite web |first= |title=Local Elections 2021 - City of Doncaster Council |url=https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/local-elections-2021 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.doncaster.gov.uk |language=en}}

In November 2023, one of the party's councillors, Bev Chapman, left the party to sit as an independent. She stated that she could no longer work with the party's deputy leader Sean Gibbons. Gibbons responded by saying she would have been removed for the party at their next meeting anyway. This reduced the party to two seats on the council.{{Cite news |last=Dennison |first=Gareth |date=20 November 2023 |title=Mexborough First councillor quits party after fallout |url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/mexborough-first-councillor-quits-party-after-fallout-4416702 |access-date=19 September 2024 |work=Rotheram Advertiser}} That December, Chapman announced she had joined the Labour party, saying that "nothing major" had been achieved in the eight and a half years she was a member of Mexborough First.{{Cite news |last=Mower |first=Shannon |date=8 December 2023 |title=Former Mexborough First councillor announces move to Labour Party, pledging to 'continue to do my very best for the town' |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/council/former-mexborough-first-councillor-announces-move-to-labour-party-pledging-to-continue-to-do-my-very-best-for-the-town-4439352 |access-date=19 September 2024 |work=Doncaster Free Press}}

The party opposes the construction of High Speed 2, which councillors predict would lead to the demolition of 200 homes. It says that funding should be used to increase transport connections in the North of England.{{cite web|title=Doncaster Council signed non-disclosure agreement with HS2 bosses|url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/council/doncaster-council-signed-non-disclosure-agreement-hs2-bosses-3085336|access-date=23 January 2021|website=www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Torr |first=George |date=1 December 2020 |title="HS2 does nothing for the town" - Doncaster councillor hits out over Chamber's support for controversial rail scheme |url=https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/council/hs2-does-nothing-for-the-town-doncaster-councillor-hits-out-over-chambers-support-for-controversial-rail-scheme-3054233 |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Doncaster Free Press}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://mexboroughfirst.org.uk/ Official website]
• [https://twitter.com/mexborough1st?lang=en Mexborough First] on Twitter

{{Political parties in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Locally based political parties in England

Category:Mexborough

Category:Politics of South Yorkshire

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