Our leading Key People

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Marianne is the Leader of he Independent Network

   She brings a wealth of experience in Local Government and a former career in education and biodiversity expeditions.  She has a record of being an energetic and effective councillor, committed to serving communities.

 Marianne has worked with residents to achieve a village bypass, five village halls, two sports centres, one worth over a million pounds, working to shape careful planning and she led fundamental change in her Council as it adopted and now implements the Climate emergency motion. 

To do more, and develop better decision-making at all levels of Government. 

 The Independent Network links councillors and residents to create a powerful force across the country. Marianne draws on wider powers with the Local Government Association and support nationally to speak truth to ministers and bring the changes needed to get better funding and decisions at local level. 

Marianne is the elected Leader of the Independent Group and Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association four times. Under her leadership, increasing numbers of Independents have been elected, now reaching over 2,000, elected councillors and running 65 District, County and Unitary Authorities. 

Many more are running Parish and Town Councils. 

Always as an Independent, Marianne has served as part of the Council administration, in opposition and in no overall control. She led the opposition on Lincolnshire County Council and currently on North Kesteven District Council. 

Jim is Treasurer

  Jim Thornton was an elected Independent Councillor on East Herts District Council, and is the author of Independents for East Herts, an introduction to getting elected and being a Councillor in Local Government. He is a Civil Engineer by profession, has a group of companies specialising in property investment and management, is a governor of two schools, a trustee of several charities, and a Reader in the Church of England.

In 2006 he set up East Herts People as a political party to promote the cause of Independents at local level, and fielded thirteen Independent candidates in the 2007 Council election. In 2009 an EHP Independent won a Hertford Town Council by-election, and another EHP Independent came second in a County Council election.

Jim is married to Viv, and they have three grown-up children. A civil engineer by profession, he is a governor of two schools, a trustee of several charities, and runs his own group of companies in property management and surveying.

www.jimthornton.org.uk

Karen is our Campaigning and Nomonations Officer.  Karen was first elected in 2013 and is very active within her community, she has vast experience in  Elections as an agent and candidate.  

Karen supported setting up the Island Independent Network (Isle of Wight) which is the first franchise of the Independent Network.

Karen chairs various committes including facilites and Assets,  sensory impairment, which is making sure her council is fully commited, inclusive and making sure everyone has equal access to their council.

Karen is the founder of The Respect Ryde project which is about loving where you live.  Looking after the island enviroment.