Councillors resign from The Borough First Independents in split over 'values'

A rift has emerged in the Royal Borough’s independent group, with several councillors announcing their resignation from the Borough First Independents (TBFI) this week.

The party was set up in 2018, as a ‘grassroots’ political group aimed to support ‘community-focused’ councillors without allegiances to national political parties, and to ‘put the borough first’.

But it was accused of departing from its core values of integrity, respect and collaboration as councillors posted statements confirming their resignations on their respective Facebook pages this week.

Representatives who have remained part of the TBFI have hit back, saying these core principles remain, while its former chairman, Councillor David Buckley, has accused some councillors of shifting towards ‘party-aligned politics’.

In a post on Sunday, Councillor Helen Price (Clewer and Dedworth East) announced her resignation, saying TBFI is ‘no longer the organisation it started off being, which was a vehicle to assist, support and train people who wished to stand as independent councillors’.

“Unfortunately, the core values of integrity, respect and collaboration are no longer being adhered to resulting in a shift of purpose for the organisation,” she wrote on social media.

She said she and Cllr Helen Taylor (Oldfield) had resigned as a result of this shift, while Old Windsor Residents’ Association councillors Lynne Jones and Neil Knowles had ended their affiliation with the party.

Cllr Taylor confirmed to the Advertiser she had resigned in September.

The councillors remain part of the local independents group on the council.

A Facebook statement from Cllr Geoff Hill, who resigned from TBFI in July 2024, echoed Cllr Price’s sentiments on the party’s values.

Councillors Suzanne Cross (Bray) and Jodie Grove (Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury) have also left the party but cited a change in direction for leaving.

Cllr Cross confirmed to the Advertiser that she stepped away from TBFI last week, adding: “Over time, priorities and directions evolve.

“For [residents] – the perspective that matters most –nothing changes. I will continue representing Bray ward as an independent councillor and doing my utmost for the community.”

Cllr Grove also confirmed her departure in a Facebook statement on Tuesday for ‘full transparency’.

“There’s no big story or falling out, but as is the way of things, both people and organisations change over time and sometimes that means moving in different directions,” she wrote.

Now, two councillors remain affiliated with the Borough First Independents – Councillor Alison Carpenter (Clewer and Dedworth East) and Cllr Buckley (Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury).

Cllr Carpenter said she was ‘saddened’ by the statements of her fellow TBFI councillors but disagreed with the reasons for their resignation, as the ‘values remain at the heart’ of their work.

“I strongly disagree with their assertion that the core values of integrity, respect and collaboration are no longer being adhered to," she wrote.

“While I respect the decisions of those who have chosen to step away, I was disappointed that this announcement was made without any discussion, particularly as integrity, respect and collaboration are principles we strive to uphold."

Cllr Buckley said he felt ‘compelled to speak out’ about the resignations, adding:

“TBFI was founded in 2018 to offer a true independent alternative to party politics in the RBWM.

“TBFI, based on values of integrity, collaboration, and respect, grew to become the second largest in the council.

“However, recent resignations reveal a division within the independent group at the council.

“Some members have shifted towards party-aligned politics, contradicting our core principle of putting residents before politics. This undermines the values of true independents.

“While the movement is fractured, the divide is not about values but about individuals prioritising party agendas over serving the community.

“The current leadership suppresses open debate and fosters a toxic culture of control.

“It’s time for new candidates to step forward, rebuild local governance, and restore true independent values.”

Party co-founder and recently elected chairman, Charles Hollingsworth, told the Advertiser: “Nobody has brought anything to the attention of the party about any lack of values in an official capacity.

“We have absolutely no evidence or examples, none.”

He said nothing was raised at a meeting with TBFI members last week and ‘nothing has gone on within the party’.

“We’re going to continue what we were doing,” he added.

“We are a force only focused on the borough.

“The idea of setting up a political party was something a hundred miles from my thoughts… we’ve done it and we’ve worked very hard and nobody other than these leavers have raised any issues other than ‘we don’t adhere to their values’.

“Some of the people who joined changed the name from TBF to TBFI and these are the people who have now left.

“They changed the focus of it. We were only focused on the borough – hence the Borough First. The clue is in the title.”