Historical Background to Northampton Local Party

Charles Bradlaugh and the 19th century

Northampton has a long history of Liberalism. In 1880 the town elected Britain's first Atheist MP, Charles Bradlaugh.

Parliament refused to let Bradlaugh take an oath on the bible to be sworn into Parliament. After a long and bitter campaign, during which his seat was called vacant three times, forcing by-elections in which Northampton people stuck with Bradlaugh, Gladstone finally introduced a new non-religious oath. This allowed Charles Bradlaugh to take his rightful place in Parliament as Northampton's MP.

[Pictured right: Charles Bradlaugh]

For much of the second half of the 19th century, and the early years of the 20th century, Liberals dominated the local council. Liberal councillors such as Philip Manfield (shoe manufacturer) and Thomas Adams (baker) were important local figures, whose names are remembered in local street names.

Liberal councillors of this period played an important part in the founding of the Northampton Freehold Land Association, a forerunner of the Nationwide Building Society. This enabled working people to build and own their houses, both improving the quality of housing in Northampton and giving many the right to vote, which went with property ownership.

The Freehold Land Association built much of what is now Abington Ward, together with Freehold St. (one of its first developments), Poets corner, Holly and Ivy Roads in present day Lib Dem Kingsley Ward

[Pictured left: Philip Manfield (Boot & Shoe Manufacturer)

The Fall and Rise of The Liberals in the 20th Century

As in the rest of the country, the Liberal Party declined in Northampton during the first half of the 20th century. The last Liberal MP for Northampton lost his seat in the 1920's, and Percy Adams, Mayor of Northampton in 1953, was the last Liberal councillor for nearly 30 years.

[Pictured: Percy Adams (Baker) as Mayor of Northampton]

1971 - the Liberal Party adopted the Community politics strategy, which laid the foundations for the huge growth in Liberal influence in local government which continues to this day.

1981 - using this strategy Liberals made a dramatic breakthrough on Northamptonshire County Council. Tony Rounthwaite (Kingsthorpe) and Gordon Lishman (Boughton Green) were joined by two other liberals from elsewhere in the county to form a group of 4 holding the balance between exactly matched Labour and Tory groups. Gordon Lishman was replaced in 1983 by Christine Teulon. He went on to become a member of the Liberal Democrats National Executive and Policy Committees, and is now national director of Age Concern. Kingsthorpe has returned Liberal and Liberal Democrat councillors in every election since (a total of 12 elections, including 2 by-elections).

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

1982 - the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was formed by the 'gang of four' Labour ex-cabinet ministers (Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rogers). 3 Northampton Borough councillors left Labour for the SDP, but lost their seats in 1983. After the formation of the Alliance between the Liberals and SDP, Northampton North was fought by the Liberals in the 1983 and 1987 General Elections. Northampton South was fought by the SDP.

1983 Borough Elections

Sally Beardsworth, Tony Rounthwaite, Christine Teulon & Richard Church in 1983

1983 Borough Elections - Liberals won Kingsthorpe and Boughton Green again, this time holding the balance of power on the Borough Council. Tony Rounthwaite and Christine Teulon are joined by Richard Church and Sally Beardsworth. Abington Ward went Liberal in the 1985 County Council elections, with the election of Brian Markham, but was lost in 1989. Boughton Green too was lost in 1987.

The Merger

In 1988, the Liberal Party and SDP merged to form the Liberal Democrats. The new party chooses to form a single organisation covering the two parliamentary seats of Northampton North and Northampton South.

The 1990's - A decade of steady growth

• 1991 Borough Council Elections - Boughton Green is regained by Carl Squires and Martin Hanly.

• 1993 County Council Elections - Jamie Cramp wins St George. In a sensational autumn by-election, the Lib Dem Brian Markham comes from nowhere to take Headlands ward on the Borough Council, then the Tories safest seat. We have retained it ever since.

• 1995 Borough Council Elections - Andrew Simpson and Rob Atkins win St George, Brian Markham and Whitney Greye win Headlands, taking Lib Dem representation to 8, and for the first time the official opposition.

• 1997 County Council Elections - Stephen O'Hare wins Headlands County Division.Richard Church is the first Liberal Democrat Mayor of Northampton. Robina Foot (Boughton Green Borough and County Councillor) defects to Labour only 6 months after being elected as a Lib Dem.

• 1998 - Rob Atkins leaves the Lib Dems to sit as an independent.

• 1999 Borough Council Elections - Major boundary changes, plus the two defections made this a challenging year for the party, but it turned out to be the most successful council elections for over 60 years. Both seats lost by defections were regained, plus an extra seat in the now 3 member Boughton Green ward. The party made its first breakthrough in the south of the town, with Jill Hope and Richard Matthews winning the new West Hunsbury Ward. Liberal Democrats now have 11 seats on Northampton Borough Council, and 3 on the County Council (all from Northampton). Significantly, the Lib Dem vote across Northampton North totals 34%, well ahead of the Tories.

The New Millennium

• 2000 - No elections, but local Lib Dem membership grows by over 30%. New members include Brendan Glynane, a prominent campaigner for residents affected by the 1998 floods in Far Cotton. The local party chooses Richard Church as its prospective parliamentary candidate for Northampton North, and Andrew Simpson for Northampton South

• 2001 The General Election sees the Lib Dem vote rise in both Northampton North and Northampton South, but disappointing results in the County Council elections sees the party holding just one seat, Sally Beardsworth in Kingsthorpe

• 2003 Early in the year, the former Labour Mayor of Northampton John Rawlings crosses the floor of the council chamber to join the Liberal Democrats. In May, the Borough Council elections produce one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Council. Labour lose over half their seats as both the Lib Dems and the Tories gain. For the first time, the Lib Dems fight every seat on the council. The new composition of the Council is Conservative 19, Lib Dem 17, Labour 11. The Lib Dems hold all the seats they are defending, some with record majorities, and gain Delapre, St. Davids and Abington. The Lib Dem offer of a shared administration is rejected by both the other parties, leading to the formation of a weak minority Conservative administration

• 2005 After a small setback of the beginning of the year with the defection of Delapre councillor Michelle Hoare to the Tories, the Lib Dem advance continues in the May elections. In Northampton North Andrew Simpson takes 24% of the vote in the General Election, the highest vote since 1983. In the County Council elections on the same day, the party scores a best ever, winning seven seats. In addition to holding Kingsthorpe, the party re-gains Kingsley, Headlands and Boughton Green, regains Abington for the first time since 1989 and wins St Davids and Delapre on the County Council for the first time. The result puts the Lib Dems in first place in the new Northampton North seat in terms of both councillors elected and council votes cast. Sally Beardsworth becomes the second Lib Dem Mayor of Northampton.

• In the autumn of 2005 Labour Councillor for Spencer Ward, Paul Concannon, after a period as an Independent joins the Liberal Democrats. In December he resigns his seat citing health reasons.

• Just after Xmas 2005 Mel De Cruz, Labour County Councillor for Spencer ward defects to the Liberal Democrats bringing the Group on the County Council up to 8 Councillors. The largest ever.

• 2006 - A by-election called due to the resignation of Paul Concannon sees Roger Conroy win the Spencer ward Borough Council seat for the Lib Dems for the first time.

• May 2006- Andrew Simpson is reselected by an overwhelming majority as Lib Dem Propsective Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North Constituency.

On May 3rd 2007 Northampton voted overwhelmingly to elect the town's first Liberal Democrat controlled council. The party won 26 seats - five additional seats from Labour and four additional seats from the Conservatives - to gain overall control of the Council for the first time.

The breakdown of seats is now: Liberal Democrat - 26 (+9) Conservative - 15 (-5) Labour - 5 (-5) Independent - 1. The party polled 40% of the vote across the town and over 54% in Northampton North constituency. Thank you to everybody who supported us. Now the really hard work starts!