News Release - 22/04/10

Number of Independent General Election Candidates Almost Doubles
Independent candidates offer the only alternative to political parties

315 independent candidates will be running for election on May 6th according to the Press Association. This is the largest number since 1885 when records began and almost double the number of independents standing in the 2005 General Election.

The Independent Network, a loose association that supports independent candidates, believes this vast increase demonstrates the electorate's dissatisfaction with party politics.

98.5% of the population are not members of a political party. Whilst the vast majority of the electorate remains interested in national and local issues, most people in the UK feel that they do not have a say in how the country is run. This public frustration and disillusionment with career politicians and party politics demonstrates a role for independent candidates elected to public office

Since 1987 the number of people voting for independents has risen from 10,000 to over 144,000. Currently there are two elected independent MPs in Parliament, more representatives than the Green Party, UKIP and the BNP who have no elected representatives in the House of Commons.

Humanitarian Terry Waite CBE urged the public to vote for independent candidates on May 6th saying, "Parliament needs reforming. I cannot pretend that an independent candidate alone will be able to undertake such a massive task. I do believe however that a group of independent candidates, acting together to reform Parliament and voting according to their independent position at least stand a chance of edging this process forward."

Neville Watson, a member of the Independent Network's Executive Committee, said, "Ninety-nine per cent of people are not members of the main political parties. At the last election, 55 per cent of people didn't feel they were able to vote for a party that represented their needs. We expect this number has risen due to recent events. There's two elected independents in the House of Commons, so it's time to recognise independent candidates as a credible alternative to party politicians."

Jim Thornton, a member of the Independent Network's Executive Committee, said, "It's important that the electorate are not confused by political parties into thinking they are voting for a leader or president. Their vote on May 6th is for a constituency MP, someone to represent them in Parliament. The Independent Network's endorsed candidates agree to abide by The Bell Principles, which are believed to be the first set of conduct guidelines published by a political organisation for its affiliated candidates and representatives. An important character of The Principles is that they are not a set of rules about what representatives should not do, but urge positive action to improve and promote democracy and service to their community. The nature of politics is changing. The number and calibre of party members has declined, and the public have become effectively disenfranchised by party politics and party politicians. There is an alternative - in fact the only alternative to party political candidates - that can galvanise local politics, the independent representative."

Steven Ford, a member of the Independent Network's Executive Committee, said, "We want the electorate to recognise that they no longer need political parties. No longer are they "floating voters" or "swing voters" - they are independent voters that can think for themselves. It makes sense that they look to independent candidates that are free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip and are guided by considered evidence, their real world experience and expertise, their constituencies and their consciences."

The Independent Network has endorsed 47 independent candidates to take on party politicians in the upcoming election. All endorsed candidates have agreed to adhere to the 'Bell principles'- a code of conduct for elected representatives inspired by former independent MP Martin Bell OBE. The Bell Principles are thought to be the first set of conduct guidelines created by a political organisation for its affiliated candidates and representatives. The principles are used by the Independent Network to influence the conduct, but not the policies, of its endorsed candidates.

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Notes to Editors:

For more information please visit: www.independentnetwork.org.uk. Alternatively you can contact the press office at 020 7609 1900.

The Independent Network is a loose non- profit association that provides support to Prospective Parliamentary Candidates who do not belong to a political party. The Independent Network was set up to provide support for independent candidates, as no other organisation existed to support them.

Independent candidates do not have access to a large national party structure with its human and financial resources.  The Independent Network was formed to attend to this inequality and continues to encourage the electorate to acknowledge the success and influence that independents are having in local Government and can have in Parliament.

The Independent Network does not impose any political views on the individuals and parties it supports or that support the Independent Network. However, affiliates of the Independent Network must be non-racist and non-discriminatory and adhere to The Bell Principles.

The Bell Principles require that all endorsed independent candidates:

o abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
o be guided by considered evidence, their real world experience and expertise, their constituencies and their consciences
o be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip
o be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism.
o make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based
o listen, consulting their communities constantly and innovatively
o treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when they believe they are wrong, and agreeing with them when they believe they are right
o resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level
o work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson
o claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of their activities.