For Darwen

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For Darwen is a small political party with three seats on Blackburn with Darwen Council. The party has fielded candidates in wards in the small town of Darwen, which lies to the south of Blackburn, with a platform that the views of Darweners are not properly represented in the town hall.

The party was founded in 2007 by Tony Melia^[1], who had previously stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate against Jack Straw in the 2005 general election in Blackburn. He said he quit the Liberal Democrats to form For Darwen he was tired of what the Labour-controlled council was doing, particularly with the Darwen Academy, leisure centre, and regeneration.^[2]

The party gained its first councillor within a month, when Michael Johnson joined from the England First Party^[2][3], and gained two seats in the May 2007 local elections.^[4]

With Labour losing overall control of the council, For Darwen was expected to be courted by both Labour and the Tories and Liberal Democrats, who will compete to form a working coalition. For Darwen chose to form a three way coalition with Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. For Darwen represent a third of Darwen people who blame much of the town's problems on their partnership with Blackburn.^{[citation needed]}

Recently the party has begun to gain popularity, largely due to the constant attacks they endure from the Labour Party. However, they are criticised for their inability to follow up on election promises, including their opposition to the Darwen Academy.^{[citation needed]}

In an interview in the Sun newspaper, Councillor Johnson has apparently reported that he stopped working four years ago and is unable to find employment and blamed it on immigrants^[5], although it is alleged he was the landlord of a local pub until 2006^[6].

References

1. ^ http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/search/display.var.1236172.0.new_party_pledges_to_put_darwen_first.php New party pledges to put Darwen first, David Bartlett, Lancashire Telegraph, 3 March 2007
2. ^ ^{a b} http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/2007/3/13/977379.html Party's first public meeting, Lancashire Telegraph, 13 March 2007
3. ^ http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/2007/3/5/975089.html England First pair quit party, Lancashire Telegraph, 5 March 2007
4. ^ http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/display.var.1375885.0.labour_loses_overall_control_of_blackburn_town_hall.php Labour loses overall control of Blackburn town hall, Lancashire Telegraph, 4 May 2007
5. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article357154.ece Councillor Johnsons interview in The Sun, The Sun, 18 October 2007
6. ^ http://archive.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/2006/11/20/946070.html Far-right landlord plans to sell pub, Lancashire Telegraph, 20 November 2006

• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election candidates, David Bartlett, Lancashire Telegraph, 3 March 2007
• ‘For Darwen’ poll hopefuls, Lancashire Telegraph, 3 April 2007
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election preview, David Bartlett, Lancashire Telegraph, 27 April 2007
• Labour loses overall control of Blackburn town hall, Lancashire Telegraph, 4 May 2007
• Reaction to Councillor Johnson comments in The Sun, Lancashire Telegraph, 19 Ocotber 2007

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