Peterborough First

Peterborough First
LeaderChris Harper
TreasurerPeter Hiller
Nominating OfficerNeil Boyce
Founded4 March 2016 (2016-03-04)
Headquarters28 West End Road,
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE6 9EJ
Peterborough City Council
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Peterborough First is a localist political party in Peterborough, England, which has been registered with the Electoral Commission since March 2016. The party operates without a formal voting whip, allowing its elected representatives to vote independently based on ward priorities. The group temporarily held the leadership of Peterborough City Council as a minority administration from late 2023 until late 2025. Following the 2026 Peterborough City Council election, the party holds eight seats and serves as a junior partner in a cross-party governing coalition alongside the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

History

The party originated as Werrington First, a group of three independent councillors in Werrington, John Fox, Judy Fox, and Steve Lane, who wanted to support each other.

In December 2021, Chris Harper, a councillor representing the Stanground South ward, defected to the group from the Conservatives, and formed Peterborough First. Harper was elected as the group's leader in May 2022. In May 2023, four Conservative councillors defected to the group, bringing the total number of councillors up to eight. In June 2023, three councillors, Mohammed Farooq and his son Saqib Farooq, and John Howard joined Peterborough First. At the 2024 Peterborough City Council election, the party gained four new seats, bringing them to 14 representatives on the city council. Labour subsequently formed a minority administration, with their group leader Dennis Jones being formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2024.

Mohammed Farooq, a former council leader, replaced Harper as group leader in October 2024. Howard defected back to the Conservatives in January 2025. In May 2025, Farooq stepped down as leader and was replaced by Harper. In the May 2026 local elections, the party fielded candidates in two seats of those up for election, winning 1 and maintaining a total presence of 8 councillors on the council.

Election Results

Werrington First Election Results (2016–2023)
ElectionSeats ContestedSeats WonTotal Votes
2016334,731
2018111,420
2019112,045
2021111,736
2022111,373
Peterborough First Election Results
YearSeats ContestedSeats WonTotal Votes
2023111,672
2024887,279
2026211,898

References

  1. ↑ "Peterborough First: Ruling council group says it'll take a 'city-wide' approach to elections with 'common values'". Peterborough Telegraph. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "New leader for power-holders Peterborough First group on the city council". Peterborough Telegraph. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Peterborough First: Who are the group that four ex-Conservative councillors have joined?". Peterborough Telegraph. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ↑ McMenemy, Rachael; Ahmed, Shariqua (3 May 2024). "Labour becomes biggest party in Peterborough". BBC News. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  5. ↑ McMenemy, Rachael; McLeod, Dotty (21 May 2024). "Labour lead council for first time in 25 years". BBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Peterborough councillor defects back to the Conservatives". BBC News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Findlay, Cait; Griffin, Joe (8 May 2025). "Peterborough First leader has ambitious plans to take over council". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Local Election 2026: The full results for each ward in Peterborough". Peterborough Telegraph. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Open Council Data UK: Peterborough First". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Results of previous elections and referendums". Peterborough City Council. Retrieved 15 June 2026.