Yorkshire Party

The party was founded as Yorkshire First in 2014 by the businessmen Stewart Arnold and Richard Honnoraty, and the management consultant Richard Carter.{{cite news|last=Beaton|first=Connor|title=Yorkshire First reveal EU candidates|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0248/yorkshire-first-reveal-eu-candidates|work=The Targe|date=24 April 2014|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424192459/http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0248/yorkshire-first-reveal-eu-candidates|url-status=dead}} Carter was the party's first leader. The party's launch was welcomed by a spokesperson for Mebyon Kernow.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2014/apr/24/yorkshire-first-new-political-party-euro-elections|title=God's Own Party? Yorkshire First to contest the euro elections|last=Collier|first=Hatty|date=24 April 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 April 2014}}

Contesting the 2014 European Parliamentary elections in the Yorkshire and the Humber constituency, the Yorkshire Party received 19,017 votes (1.5%). Arnold, its lead candidate, described this as "a hugely significant result".{{cite news|last=Beaton|first=Connor|title=EU election 'breathed life into Yorkshire First'|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0290/eu-election-breathed-life-into-yorkshire-first|work=The Targe|date=26 May 2014|access-date=5 May 2019}}

In 2015, the party fought its first general election, standing 14 candidates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32146778|title=Yorkshire First's call for devolution|work=BBC News|date=1 April 2015|access-date=5 May 2019}} The party also gained its first town and parish council seats. Internationally, the party was granted observer status in the European Free Alliance grouping{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirefirst.org.uk/yorkshire_first_joins_european_free_alliance|title=Yorkshire First joins European Free Alliance|publisher=Yorkshire First|access-date=24 May 2016}} {{dead link|date=May 2019}} and has since become a full member.

In 2016, the party contested 17 candidates across six local authorities, and also fought the Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough by-election. In July, Arnold took over from Carter as leader of the party, with Chris Whitwood becoming deputy leader.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/stewart-arnold-our-distinctive-yorkshire-voice-must-be-heard-1-8044665|title=Stewart Arnold: Our distinctive Yorkshire voice must be heard|website=Yorkshire Post|access-date=27 April 2019}} The party joined the Make Votes Matter Alliance for Proportional Representation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/the-pr-alliance|title=The Alliance: pro PR groups and public figures|publisher=Make Votes Matter |access-date=5 May 2019}}

In May 2017, the Yorkshire Party stood in Doncaster for the first time, contesting the mayoral election and saving its deposit. In addition, the party stood seven candidates for council elections. In June that year, the party stood 21 candidates{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/31/yorkshire-party-economy-westminster-devolution|title=Watch out, Westminster – the Yorkshire party is taking back control |last=Arnold|first=Stewart|date=31 May 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 April 2019|issn=0261-3077}} in the general election, coming third in three constituencies. This resulted in the Yorkshire Party becoming the sixth most voted for party in England and one of only three parties to increase its vote share on 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2017/results/england|title=Results of the 2017 General Election|website=BBC News|access-date=27 April 2019}}

In 2018, the party's Rotherham candidate, Mick Bower, was selected to contest the Sheffield City Region mayoral election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-43673308|title=Sheffield City Region mayoral candidate shortlist revealed|work=BBC News|date=6 April 2018 |access-date=5 May 2019}} Securing 8.6% of the vote, gaining fourth place of the seven parties standing, the party also came third in three of the four participating council areas, beating the Liberal Democrats and Greens in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. The 22,318 votes gained was also the largest ever individual tally gained by the party.

In summer 2018, the party gained its first district and county level councillors when the former mayor of Northallerton and Hambleton District councillor, Claire Palmer,{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.hambleton.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=349|title=Councillor details - Councillor Claire Palmer|date=27 April 2019|publisher=Hambleton District Council|access-date=27 April 2019}} and the senior Conservative councillor on Selby District Council and North Yorkshire County Council, Mike Jordan, defected. Jordan said that he was joining the Yorkshire Party because he believed the government was "not doing Yorkshire the justice it deserves".{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/senior-tory-councillor-mike-jordan-joins-yorkshire-party-in-protest-at-government-s-devolution-stance-1-9261997|title=Senior Tory councillor Mike Jordan joins Yorkshire Party in protest at Government's devolution stance|website=Yorkshire Post|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129064440/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/senior-tory-councillor-mike-jordan-joins-yorkshire-party-in-protest-at-government-s-devolution-stance-1-9261997|url-status=dead}}

In March 2019, Whitwood became party leader and Laura Walker took on the role of deputy.{{Cite web|url=https://yorkshireparty.org.uk/chris-takes-reins-as-stewart-steps-down/|title=Chris and Laura take reins as Stewart steps down|date=26 March 2019|publisher=Yorkshire Party|access-date=27 April 2019}} Whitwood expressed his optimism at the positive role the Yorkshire Party could play in the politics of people's everyday lives, describing the period as a golden opportunity where "small parties can make a huge difference and carry a huge amount of influence".{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/yorkshire-party-leader-chris-whitwood-small-parties-can-still-make-a-huge-difference-1-9706234|title=Yorkshire Party leader Chris Whitwood: Small parties can still make a huge difference|website=Yorkshire Post|date=13 April 2019|access-date=27 April 2019}}

In April 2019, with the fifth anniversary of the party's formation, it fielded a record number of candidates in that year's local elections, more than double the previous record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/party-doubles-number-of-candidates-in-a-year/|title=Find your Yorkshire Party candidate|date=27 April 2019|publisher=Yorkshire Party |access-date=27 April 2019}}

The party fielded six candidates in the 2019 European elections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17592589.yorkshire-party-launches-eu-election-campaign/|title=Yorkshire Party launches EU election campaign|date=24 April 2019|author=Mike Laycock|website=The Press |access-date=16 November 2019}} None were elected. They fielded 28 candidates in the 2019 general election: none were elected, but with 29,201 votes, they received the third highest number of votes of any party that did not get an MP elected, after The Brexit Party and the Ulster Unionist Party.

In May 2020, Bob Buxton, a teacher, was elected to serve a two-year term as leader following the resignation of Whitwood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/yorkshire-party-leadership-election-result-2020/|title=Yorkshire Party Leadership Election Result|date=25 May 2020|publisher=Yorkshire Party|access-date=25 May 2020}} In June 2020, a Shipley businessman, Darren Longhorn, was appointed interim party chairman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/party_leadership/|title=Who's Who|date=25 June 2020|publisher=Yorkshire Party|access-date=25 June 2020}}

At the end of August 2020, Councillor George Derx of the Stainforth and Barnby Dun ward in Doncaster defected from the Labour Party and joined the Yorkshire Party. He said that he believed that the party had the "right policies for our region".{{Cite news|last=Sutcliffe|first=Robert|date=30 August 2020|title=High profile councillor defects from Labour to join the Yorkshire Party|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/high-profile-south-yorkshire-councillor-18851348|access-date=31 August 2020|website=YorkshireLive}} As a result of this defection, the Yorkshire Party is now represented by eight councillors in local government.

On 14 June 2023, the Conservative Party lost its majority on North Yorkshire Council following the resignation of one of its councillors,{{cite web |last=Plummer |first=John |date=12 June 2023 |title=Conservatives lose majority on North Yorkshire Council |url=https://thestrayferret.co.uk/conservatives-lose-majority-on-north-yorkshire-council/ |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=The Stray Ferret}} Mike Jordan, who represents the Camblesforth & Carlton ward in the Selby area. He cited concerns about the party nationally as his reason.{{cite news |date=13 June 2023 |title=North Yorkshire: Conservatives lose majority after councillor quits |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65887884 |access-date=15 June 2023}} He re-joined the Yorkshire Party and was announced as the party's candidate in the 2023 Selby and Ainsty by-election.{{cite web |last=Boycott-Owen |first=Mason |date=15 June 2023 |title=When is the Selby and Ainsty by-election and who are the candidates? |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/when-is-the-selby-and-ainsty-by-election-and-who-are-the-candidates-4184803 |accessdate=15 June 2023 |website=Yorkshire Post}}
- {{cite web |date=1 July 2023 |title=Mike Jordan selected as candidate for Selby and Ainsty by-election |url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/cllr_mike_jordan_selected_as_yorkshire_party_candidate_for_selby_amp_ainsty_by_election |accessdate=1 July 2023 |publisher=Yorkshire Party}} Jordan was, however, listed on the Statement of Persons Nominated with no party affiliation.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-19 |title=Selby and Ainsty by-election: Voters along A64 have their say on ballot |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66201587 |access-date=2023-07-21}} He received 4.2% of the votes.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66264317 |title=Big defeats for Tories but party holds on to Uxbridge |date=21 July 2023 |work=BBC news |accessdate=21 July 2023}}

The party advocates regional devolution for Yorkshire in the form of a democratically elected assembly as "the best way to achieve a stronger Yorkshire in a fairer United Kingdom".{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/yorkshire-party-launches-new-principles-document/|title=Yorkshire Party launches new principles document|date=9 May 2018|publisher=Yorkshire Party|access-date=27 April 2019}} The party's argument for regional devolution is said to be founded on the principle of subsidiarity – the belief that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralised competent authority.

The party promotes a range of policies covering education, environment, transport and housing it describes as economically centrist and underpinned by social democratic principles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk/yorkshire-party-launches-new-principles-document/|title=Yorkshire Party launches new principles document|date=9 May 2018|publisher=Yorkshire Party |access-date=27 April 2019}}

{{main|Yorkshire Party election results}}

In 2014, the party started by fielding candidates for the EU Parliament election in the Yorkshire and the Humber constituency, winning 1.5% of the vote with just over 19,000 votes.

In the 2015 general election, the party contested 14 constituencies, winning 6,811 votes and an average vote share of 1.04%.

The party increased its number of candidates in the 2017 snap election to 21, winning 20,958 votes, a huge increase from the previous election. The party also increased its average vote share in seats it contested to 2.1% of the vote. While contesting seats only within Yorkshire the party, received enough votes to become the sixth most popular party in England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results/england/|title=Results of the 2017 General Election |date=9 June 2017|website=BBC News|access-date=2 November 2019}}

The party won its first principal authority elections at the 2019 local elections, taking seats on Selby District Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

In the 2019 European Parliament election, in the Yorkshire and the Humber constituency it received over 50,000 votes (4% of the vote share).{{cite news |title=Brexit Party take three of Yorkshire & Humber region's six seats while Tories and Ukip lose out |url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2019-05-27/brexit-party-take-three-of-yorkshire-humber-regions-six-seats-while-tories-and-ukip-lose-out/ |access-date=27 May 2019 |work=ITV News |date=27 May 2019}} It was the only non-parliamentary party to outpoll Change UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.joe.co.uk/news/yorkshire-separatist-change-uk-european-elections-233116/|title=YORKSHIRE PARTY DOES BETTER THAN CHANGE UK AT EUROPEAN ELECTIONS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER REGION|date=2 June 2019|website=Joe |author=James Dawson |publisher=JOE Media |access-date=2 November 2019}} {{unreliable source?|date=November 2019}}

In the 2019 local elections, the Yorkshire Party won four seats on Selby District Council{{Cite web|url=https://www.selby.gov.uk/may-2019-elections|title=May 2019 Elections |publisher=Selby District Council |access-date=5 May 2019}} and two on East Riding of Yorkshire Council.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting/election-results/?dt-result=local_election_20190502_bridlington_south |title=Election results|publisher=East Riding of Yorkshire Council|access-date=4 May 2019}} When taken alongside the two seats the party holds on the North Yorkshire County Council and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council due to defections.

In the 2019 general election, the party further increased its number of candidates to 28 and secured 29,201 votes in total — its best electoral performance in a general election. The party's average vote share remained constant at 2.1%, with a slight increase of 0.07%.{{Cite web|title=Results of the 2019 General Election|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2019/results|access-date=25 October 2021|website=BBC News}}

In the 2021 West Yorkshire mayoral elections, it received nearly 60,000 votes (nearly 10% of the vote share) in the first round - third overall, behind Labour and the Conservatives.{{cite news |title=Election results 2021: Tracy Brabin elected West Yorkshire mayor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57048269 |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2021}}

The Yorkshire party contested the 2022 local elections, fielding 37 candidates across Yorkshire, with the Barnsley environmentalist and entrepreneur Dr Simon Biltcliffe running as the party's candidate for the South of Yorkshire Mayoral election. Biltcliffe finished third with 13.4% of first choice votes.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/south-yorkshire-mayor-election-yorkshire-partys-third-place-finish-shows-people-want-more-regional-power-says-candidate-3686464|title=South Yorkshire mayor election: 'Yorkshire Party's third place finish shows people want more regional power' says candidate|work=The Star|location=Sheffield|author=George Torr|date=9 May 2022}}

The Yorkshire Party contested the 2022 Wakefield by-election with David Herdson, who lives in the constituency, as candidate. It came fourth with 4.3% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Wakefield by-election: Labour win a great result, says Keir Starmer|author1=Tom Airey|author2=Julia Bryson|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61896693|work=BBC News |date=24 June 2022 |access-date=24 June 2022}}

On 8 January 2024, the Yorkshire Party had three councillors.{{cite web |url= http://opencouncildata.co.uk/councillors2.php?y=0 |title= Councillors Breakdown by Party: Latest |website= opencouncildata.co.uk |publisher= OPEN COUNCIL DATA UK |access-date= 8 January 2024}}

The party stood 27 candidates in the 2024 general election.{{cite web |url=https://democracyclub.org.uk/blog/2024/06/08/2024-uk-general-election-candidate-summary/ |title=2024 UK general election candidate summary |date=12 June 2024 |publisher=Democracy Club |accessdate=13 June 2024}} It secured 17,227 votes in total.{{Cite web |title=UK election results 2024 {{!}} Constituency map |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/results |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

• North East Party, a regional party in the North East England region.
• Northern Party, a former regional party based in Lancashire
• Northern Independence Party, a regional secessionist party in Northern England
• Social Justice Party, a party launched in Whitby with a councillor on the North Yorkshire Council

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official|https://www.yorkshireparty.org.uk}}

{{British political parties}}

{{Yorkshire}}

Category:Home rule in the United Kingdom

Category:Political parties established in 2014

Category:Politics of Yorkshire

Category:Regionalist parties in the United Kingdom

Category:2014 establishments in England