Curly’s Corner Shop, the blog!

What do these have in common?

• Ashford Independents
• Association of Bedford Citizens
• Barnsley Independent Group
• Billingham Independent Association
• Chigwell Residents
• Derwentside Independents
• East Cleveland Independents
• Independents of North Yorkshire
• Lincoln Independent Alliance
• Morecambe Bay Independents
• Residents Association of London
• Stoke on Trent Independent Group
• South Tyneside Progressives
• Teesdale Independent Association
• Thornaby Independent Association
• West Suffolk Independent Alliance

They are all some of the hundreds of smaller groups registered with the Electoral Commission where we can see who they are, who their officers are, and how they raise their cash! Many of them have their accounts published online with the Electoral Commission and transparency and accountability is there for all to see.

Yet can you folks in South Shields and South Tyneside spot the odd man out? More to the point, can you spot the missing player who has steadfastly refused to register with the Electoral Commission and give us an insight to their financial status?

The South Tyneside Independent Alliance group of councillors are very conspicuous by their absence, yet on the home page of their website they announce that change is on the way and that people want more openness and accountability! They stand for holding councillors and council officials accountable for their actions.

Yet they don’t wish themselves to be publicly accountable?

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