It was the first time a number of Republicans from a range of different backgrounds had come together collectively to consider the idea of standing Independents as Councillors in the reshaped constituencies across the North. Many of these Republicans had been members of parties in the past and had had their fill of the way that parties worked. The new thinking was that if they stood as Independents, they would only be responsible for their own political opinions, successes and failures.
In the new Derry & Strabane Council, this led to 4 Independent members being elected (10% of the total Council seats) and a fifth being converted to the Independent Model immediately following the elections. All 5 met and found they could work together and coalesce from the outset on issues of mutual agreement, whilst equally going their separate ways on differences of opinion - a distinct advantage over the party political model. Marking the decade since the Independents began to work together strategically, it is important to state that many of the most positive outcomes of this Independent Model have happened naturally and organically, rather than as the result of any future planning.
The politics of the 6 Counties have long been a minority sport, where the disaffected tend not to have anyone to vote for, yet their votes are needed most to ensure that marginalised voices are heard. In the absence of a national parliament and in a counter-democratic system, we cannot sit back and fail to act. We cannot idly wait until a Red Flag is hoisted over the 32 Counties; we need to provide a voice and support for all minority communities and the very definition of minority communities has changed substantially over the last decade. This is not just true in terms of changing demography, but also in that those who did not buy into the counter-democratic process have been further marginalised and targeted by the larger parties, the media, the church and others. We quickly realised that this was also largely true within Unionist working class communities and that we had more in common across the sectarian divide.
In the new Derry & Strabane Council, this led to 4 Independent members being elected (10% of the total Council seats) and a fifth being converted to the Independent Model immediately following the elections. All 5 met and found they could work together and coalesce from the outset on issues of mutual agreement, whilst equally going their separate ways on differences of opinion - a distinct advantage over the party political model. Marking the decade since the Independents began to work together strategically, it is important to state that many of the most positive outcomes of this Independent Model have happened naturally and organically, rather than as the result of any future planning.
The politics of the 6 Counties have long been a minority sport, where the disaffected tend not to have anyone to vote for, yet their votes are needed most to ensure that marginalised voices are heard. In the absence of a national parliament and in a counter-democratic system, we cannot sit back and fail to act. We cannot idly wait until a Red Flag is hoisted over the 32 Counties; we need to provide a voice and support for all minority communities and the very definition of minority communities has changed substantially over the last decade. This is not just true in terms of changing demography, but also in that those who did not buy into the counter-democratic process have been further marginalised and targeted by the larger parties, the media, the church and others. We quickly realised that this was also largely true within Unionist working class communities and that we had more in common across the sectarian divide.
This has led to the unexpected, but very real building of trust and relationships with local Unionist working class leaders and community activists, who also recognised that there had been an increasing ostracisation and alienation from services and support both within and between our “communities”. Conversations with these communities led to the joint analysis that the role of the support for the establishment (and the nature of the establishment) had nearly reversed over recent years: Sinn Fein had bought into the system they once fought against, whereas the DUP had removed their support from it. Yet, both parties have left the most marginalised in their communities behind, to the obvious and extreme detriment of the working class.
‘Gatekeeping’ has long been a buzzword particular to the politics and the community and voluntary sectors of the 6 Counties and this has been felt even more acutely in very recent years. Colloquially, gatekeeping refers to controlling or limiting power, information, resources or finance from the communities or individuals for whom they were intended. The Independent Model has truly punched above its weight in working against local gatekeeping, including on a genuine (and not tokenistic) cross community basis. Gatekeeping can in effect mean double exclusion from services - from politics where the main parties fail to engage with those who they do not count on for votes, as well as to services provided through the community and voluntary sector that, in other societies, could be provided through politics and civic action. The close intersection of the community and voluntary sectors and local politics in the 6 Counties have enabled Independent elected representatives to offer these services through community groups such as Creggan Community Collective and this has done a considerable amount to counter this imbalance, as well as the political maturity gained through a decade of constituency work in this way.
‘Gatekeeping’ has long been a buzzword particular to the politics and the community and voluntary sectors of the 6 Counties and this has been felt even more acutely in very recent years. Colloquially, gatekeeping refers to controlling or limiting power, information, resources or finance from the communities or individuals for whom they were intended. The Independent Model has truly punched above its weight in working against local gatekeeping, including on a genuine (and not tokenistic) cross community basis. Gatekeeping can in effect mean double exclusion from services - from politics where the main parties fail to engage with those who they do not count on for votes, as well as to services provided through the community and voluntary sector that, in other societies, could be provided through politics and civic action. The close intersection of the community and voluntary sectors and local politics in the 6 Counties have enabled Independent elected representatives to offer these services through community groups such as Creggan Community Collective and this has done a considerable amount to counter this imbalance, as well as the political maturity gained through a decade of constituency work in this way.
The Independents and the network that is growing around them are truly at the coalface of local action, learning what communities need and what benefits them, and how to provide a voice in local politics for some of the most marginalised across society. This was evident following an increased mandate in a third election in 2023, where I topped the poll once again in The Moor with a much increased margin (1868 first preference votes) and never once had to rely on a single transfer in an electoral ward which, by all accounts, should be the very heartland of constitutional nationalist parties, old and new. This election also saw two Independents elected in the same DEA (Sperrins), and three Independents elected in Mid Ulster. It is now time to strategically consider where we should go from here if the Independent Model is to grow and expand in order to have an even broader impact.
Councils have traditionally been seen as an acceptable avenue for Republicans, rather than Stormont or Leinster House. While this has not changed, the expansion of the Independent Model into other DEAs, other Council areas and with other candidates who themselves represent more of the marginalised voices (in particular young people and BAME/migrant communities) is a logical step for growth. This is not to say that all Independents hold the same political value base or are engaged in positive community action and those that are not should not be confused with those who are and have been working collaboratively on collective issues.
The list of positive outcomes from the Independent Model to date (many of which were not part of the initial strategy, but which have been unexpected benefits) far outweighs the negatives. The need to remove ego and historic differences is now critical. No one is winning by harbouring old splits and grievances or feeding personal egos, and local politics is never a zero sum game. This is despite the recent ramping up of sectarianism around elections, sectarianism encouraged by the political parties to engender fear and votes against any perceived advance by the other side.
Councils have traditionally been seen as an acceptable avenue for Republicans, rather than Stormont or Leinster House. While this has not changed, the expansion of the Independent Model into other DEAs, other Council areas and with other candidates who themselves represent more of the marginalised voices (in particular young people and BAME/migrant communities) is a logical step for growth. This is not to say that all Independents hold the same political value base or are engaged in positive community action and those that are not should not be confused with those who are and have been working collaboratively on collective issues.
The list of positive outcomes from the Independent Model to date (many of which were not part of the initial strategy, but which have been unexpected benefits) far outweighs the negatives. The need to remove ego and historic differences is now critical. No one is winning by harbouring old splits and grievances or feeding personal egos, and local politics is never a zero sum game. This is despite the recent ramping up of sectarianism around elections, sectarianism encouraged by the political parties to engender fear and votes against any perceived advance by the other side.
The unfortunate alternative is the rise of the reactionary right and the vacuum is already there and they’re beginning to creep in. The way forward now is to continue to grow the network and to build structures, to make sure that the diversity of voices is heard and that radical action is taken where it is called for. This achieves the real outworkings of what genuine community development and good relations should be about. This is not about rhetoric - real Republicanism and Socialism need to be applied on the ground in order to change people’s lives for the better, no matter how or if they vote.
⏩Gary Donnelly is an Independent Republican Councillor on Derry & Strabane Council.
⏩Gary Donnelly is an Independent Republican Councillor on Derry & Strabane Council.
