| The Borough First Independents | |
| Leader: | Suzanne Cross |
| Ideology: | Localism |
| Headquarters: | Windsor, Berkshire |
| Country: | the United Kingdom |
| Abbreviation: | tBfI |
| Colours: | Purple |
| Seats1 Title: | Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council |
The Borough First Independents (tBfI) is a locally based political party in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. Founded in 2018, the party currently forms the administration of Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the Old Windsor Residents Association.[1] [2] [3]
The party does not enforce a set of policies, instead it says its elected representatives will act based on three core values of integrity, collaboration, and respect.[4] [5]
The party first contested Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council in 2019, where they won three seats.[6] [7]
One of the party's members, David Buckley, stood as an independent candidate in the Windsor constituency at the 2019 general election. He came fifth with 0.9% of the vote.[8]
In the 2023 borough council election, the party gained four seats, bringing their total to seven.[9] [10] After the election, the party agreed to join the council's new administration with the Liberal Democrats, and the Old Windsor Residents Association.
Buckley, now the party's former leader, stood again for the Windsor constituency in the 2024 general election.[11] [12] He came sixth with 3.6% of the vote.[13]
In June 2024, Geoff Hill resigned as leader of the party; he was succeeded by Suzanne Cross. Later in August, he left the party entirely, bringing their total number of councillors down to six.[14] [15] [16]
| Elections | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 19 | 3 | N/A | N/A | 3 | 7.1 | 12.1 | 10,160 | N/A | |
| 2023 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8,832 | -2.1 |