With local elections coming up, independent candidates across Plymouth are offering a different way of doing politics — focusing on local issues without party backing. In Drake ward, candidate Chaz Singh has been sharing what that actually looks like on the ground.
“Independents campaign primarily within their own wards. Each area has its own priorities,” Chaz said. While campaigns are run individually, he added that there is still a level of connection between independents across the city. “There’s a strong sense of support, we share ideas and talk about common issues, just without a formal party structure.”
That picture is reflected in other parts of Plymouth too. Candidates like Jacqui in Stoke and Jon in Southway are also running independent campaigns built around their own communities, each focused on the specific concerns of the residents they hope to represent. Other independent candidates are also standing across Plymouth in this election, each focusing on their own communities and local priorities.
He was also clear about the challenges of standing without party backing. “We’re managing everything ourselves and building visibility from the ground up,” he said. Unlike party candidates, independents do not have the same access to funding, teams, or coordinated messaging, which can make campaigning, and even navigating council systems, more difficult.
However, he said that independence can also shape how decisions are made. “It means decisions are based on what residents need, not party lines.”
That independence is a key theme across candidates, the ability to scrutinise decisions, question policies, and act without a party whip. Supporters argue it allows councillors to focus purely on local needs, rather than wider political agendas.
Questions around accountability are often raised, but Chaz believes the opposite can be true. “There’s no party to hide behind. You’re directly accountable to the people in your ward,” he said, adding that visibility is key. “If you’re present, listening and responding, that’s accountability.”
Across Plymouth, more candidates are choosing to stand as independents in this election, each running their own campaign while focusing on local priorities. While they are not a formal group, there are shared themes around local decision-making, transparency, and visibility within the community.
For voters, it presents a clear choice at the ballot box party-backed structure, or an independent voice.
With polling day set for May 7th, some are calling it a chance to try something different, and see what an independent approach could bring.
What do you think? Would you trust an independent councillor more, or do parties still matter? Drop your thoughts below.
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post