In 2009-10, the Wiltshire Council Independent Group is made up of the eight independents on the council, seven elected in May 2009 and one at a by-election in September 2009: Christopher Newbury (group leader), Ern ie Clark (Hilperton, deputy leader), George Jeans (Mere), Nick Fogg (Marlborough), Russell Hawker (Westbury West), Mike Cuthbert-Murray (Westbury East), Tom James MBE (Trowbridge Adcroft) and Francis Morland (Southwick).
In 2008-09, the Wiltshire County Council Independent Group had consisted of the two elected independents then on the council, Ern ie Clark (Holt and Paxcroft) and Christopher Newbury (Westbury Ham & Dilton.
Before the May 2005 elections, the group had three members, including Philip Allnatt from Chippenham and John Syme from Warminster. After John resigned from the Council on 19 September 2006, Christopher was left as the only elected independent, but the Group was re-established after the by- election success of Ernie Clark in the Holt and Paxcroft division in February, 2008. Christopher led the group until October 2008, when Ernie took over until the end of the county council in June 2009.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Before the creation of the new Wiltshire Council and the winding up of the county's four former districts on 31 March 2009, there were Independent groups in Kennet, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire, as well as other ungrouped independents around the county. Only North Wilts had no Independents by 2009.
Graphic version of this page