BARNSLEY FIRST INDEPENDENT GROUP

Local people. Local voice. Local action.

Barnsley First Independent Group is a community rooted, independent group focused entirely on Barnsley. We exist to take national party politics out of local decision making and put residents back at the heart of how our borough is run.

Our candidates are independent, accountable and free from party control. That means we listen, we question and we act in the best interests of local people, not party headquarters.

FOR BARNSLEY. ALL OF BARNSLEY. AND NOTHING BUT BARNSLEY.

Barnsley deserves leadership that is honest, open and grounded in real life.

Across our towns, villages and estates, people tell us the same thing: decisions feel distant, services feel stretched, and accountability feels lost. Barnsley First Independent Group was formed to change that.

We believe local decisions should be made locally, transparently and with respect for the people affected by them.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

We are guided by a simple set of principles:

• Putting residents first
• Accountability and integrity in decision making
• Common sense over political spin
• Respect for frontline workers
• Transparency at every level

If a decision affects local people, local people deserve to understand it, influence it and hold those responsible to account.

Why Independence Matters in Barnsley

If you are thinking of standing for councillor, standing as an Independent often gives you a far better chance of success than standing under a lesser-known party banner, because people understand and trust the word Independent. It says local, honest and free from party control. Local politics should be exactly that, local and Independent councillors are better placed to serve their communities without party spin or national agendas. Being Independent does not mean standing alone; once elected, an Independent councillor is free to support any party, group or proposal that genuinely helps their ward and Barnsley as a whole, judging each decision on its merits and answering only to the people who elected them.

OUR POLICIES

Our policies are practical, evidence led and shaped by local experience. They focus on the issues that matter most to residents, including:

• Housing and communities
• Care and support for older residents
• Education and SEND
• Jobs, finance and value for money
• Crime and community safety
• Roads, pavements and local infrastructure
• Planning transparency and accountability

They are not driven by ideology or party politics, but by what works for Barnsley.

OUR CANDIDATES

Barnsley First Independent Group candidates are local people who live in the wards they represent. They are not career politicians and they are not bound by party whips.

They come from different backgrounds and hold different views, but they share a commitment to serving residents honestly, openly and independently.

RAISE AN ISSUE. LET’S WORK TOGETHER.

If something is not right in your area, or if you have an idea to improve your community, we want to hear from you.

Whether it is a local service issue, a concern affecting your street or estate, or a suggestion for positive change, your voice matters.

GET INVOLVED

Barnsley First Independent Group is powered by people.

You can support us by sharing your experiences, volunteering your time, helping us engage with residents, or simply staying informed about what is happening in your area.

You do not need to agree with us on everything. You just need to care about Barnsley.

LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES

Here we share updates, statements and news about our work across the borough.

This includes council activity, community issues, and ways you can take part in local decision making.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

• We will always put residents before politics.

• We will always challenge waste and poor decision-making.

• We will always stand up for transparency and accountability.
  

Barnsley First Independent Group exists to serve the people of Barnsley.

Local people. Local voice. Local action..