Leader Frances Pringle Founded 2006 (2006) Colours Purple | Secretary-General Jim Smith | |
Headquarters Old Schoolhouse, St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0AE | ||
The Borders Party is a political party involved in Local Government in one part of Scotland. The party returned two councillors to the Scottish Borders Council in 2007 and again in 2012.
History
In April 2006, Save Scott's Countryside (SSC), a campaign group opposed to the Borders Railway and a local housing development, announced their intention to field candidates at the upcoming election. The party was launched in October 2006. At their launch their stated ambitions were around local government becoming more responsive to community need. The party remained opposed to the rail link to Edinburgh and in favour of regionalism.
The Borders Party contested the Scottish Borders Council election, 2007 and returned two councillors.
The party also contested each ward in the Scottish Borders Council election, 2012 returning Sandy Aitchison and Nicholas Watson to their respective wards for a second term. The two councillors joined a coalition administration as independents.
In August 2012, Borders Party Cllr Nicholas Watson announced he would be leaving the area to pursue employment in Cumbria. He resigned his seat on the Council the following February. The by-election for the Leaderdale and Melrose ward was won by Iain Gillespie, also of the Borders Party, on 2 May 2013. Frances Pringle took over as leader.
The Borders Party are part of the Independent group on the council.