05 May 2026
Although the five main political parties dominate the upcoming St Albans district council elections, there are some candidates who have chosen either to stand as independents, or back smaller organisations.
Their reasons for standing apart from the likes of the Lib Dems, Labour, Tories, Greens and Reform are often intrinsically personal, but no less worthy of recognition.
With just a week to go before residents go to the polls, and following extensive coverage of the big parties in the past few months, we felt it only fair to offer a platform to those candidates lacking the might of a major campaign machine behind them.
The two independents standing as candidates are David Mitchell in Redbourn, and Damian Gaskin in Batchwood.
David has long since stood separate from the mainstream parties, having decided to stand as an independent to raise concerns about Redbourn’s Green Belt being unfairly targeted for thousands of new houses.
He revealed the benefits of going it alone: “The best thing about being an independent councillor is that I can make my own mind up about issues and not have to follow a party line. I have never been a member of a political party as I find most parties are good in some ways and bad in others.
“As a local councillor, I think the important thing is to support the local community rather than force party politics on people. I am sure that many of the councillors on St Albans district council don’t want to build on the Green Belt or charge for parking in the street, but they have to vote in favour of such things as that’s what their party leaders wants them to do. I would hate to be in that position.
“As both a Redbourn parish councillor and a SADC Redbourn ward councillor, I have been fighting potential overdevelopment in Redbourn for more than a decade. During this time, we have fought off two SADC draft Local Plans.
“A third draft Local Plan is now coming down the road with proposals for 4,000 new houses on Redbourn’s Green Belt. That’s a lot of development in one place, and with the Labour Government’s build, build, build policy, it’s proving difficult to push back. But I will try. We need new housing but it’s wrong that Redbourn is being asked to take the lion’s share of housing on Green Belt.
“The council election on May 7 is my third election. I won the previous two and hopefully I will be elected again as I feel there is unfinished work to do. However, standing as an independent means you are on your own. There is no party machinery supplying campaign substantial back-up, financially and administratively.
“It’s interesting, though, that when I have been out leafleting, I found that some people were quite hostile until I told them I was an independent. They were then much more willing to listen to my views on local issues and share their thoughts with me. So being an independent does have its advantages.
“The coming election will be the last St Albans district council election as we will be moving to a unitary council in 2028, combining with other nearby district and borough councils to form a new super-council. That means the next two years are probably going to be very turbulent. It’s important that we move on knowing that we are in a strong place.
“If Redbourn residents want me to be their representative on the district council for the next two years, I would be honoured to continue in the role. But if they would prefer someone else, that’s fine too. It’s not perfect, but I am a great believer in democracy. The important thing is that people use their vote.”
Outspoken New Greens resident Damian Gaskin is making a bid to win the Batchwood ward as an independent candidate, insisting this gives him complete freedom to always represent residents first.
“I’ve seen first-hand how party politics can shape decisions before local voices are properly heard. For example, a proposed cycle path that sends children on bikes into a 60mph section of Sandridgebury Lane has been passed by local councillors because of the party whip.
“As an independent, I don’t have to follow a party line or whip. I will be free to not only listen to the community but actually act on its behalf. Every decision I make would be based on what is right for our community not a political party.
“Far from being limited by being an independent, I’ve actually found the opposite. I have a huge amount of local support – people are putting up posters, helping deliver leaflets, and even creating their own signs for their gardens.
That level of grassroots backing tells me people want someone visible, approachable, and active in the community.
“People see me every day – on the school run, running the New Greens Bike Bus, and litter picking – and they know exactly what I stand for. They can flag down my big orange bike and I am always happy to have a chat.”
Having previously stood as a Green Party candidate, and still enjoying a good relationship with local councillors, he said he broke ranks after being told he should have run a St Albans Times article about his experiences in the education sector past party leadership first.
“Party politics has long been part of local government, and many councillors work hard within that system to serve their communities. However, my own experience has shown me that party structures can sometimes place expectations on individuals to align with a particular position, even at a local level. That can make it harder to represent the specific needs and views of residents in a given area.
“Because of that, I do see real value in having more independent councillors – people who can demonstrate what they’ve already done for their community and who are free to act based on local priorities.
“For me, it comes down to this: local government works best when it focuses on practical action and accountability to residents. That’s where independent candidates can make a strong contribution.
“Being independent allows me to show people who I really am. I think people value authenticity, and they want to see the person behind the campaign, not just a party message.
“It also means I can respond quickly. If something happens in the community, I can share it the same day – sometimes within the hour – whether that’s a short video, an update, or highlighting a local issue. There’s no need to go through layers of approval or committee processes.
“That immediacy helps me tell real, local stories as they happen, and I think that resonates with people far more than committee generated, badly deployed, centrally managed messaging.”
His campaign has focused on key local issues including the future of New Greens social club, safer streets, littering, and the lack of facilities for teenagers.
“The key issue is giving people a genuine voice again – making sure residents are properly heard, especially on decisions that directly affect their community.
“I want to continue building a community that people are proud to live in – clean, safe, and welcoming. That includes addressing issues like speeding traffic, maintaining our green spaces, and supporting the everyday efforts that make a real difference locally.
“A key part of the role will be helping people organise, be heard, and influence decisions that affect their lives. Underpinning all of this is a belief that strong communities don’t just happen – they are built through involvement, communication, and people working together. That’s what I’ve been doing, and that’s what I want to continue.
“Local elections aren’t about party labels – they’re about people, streets, and the place we all share. I’m already out in the community – organising, supporting, and getting involved. Standing as an independent simply allows me to take that same approach into local government, without compromise.”
Aside from the independent candidates, Mark Ewington is bidding to take Sopwell ward on behalf of the Communist Party of Britain, the only would-be councillor representing that organisation locally.
He explained his reasons for standing: “The Communist Party is now 125 years old. We helped break the two-party stranglehold a long time ago. We have our own programme which doesn’t have to be diluted. We can say things how we see them and we can act without hinderance. And we expect to be held to account for what we say.
“It has a proud history and have previously had members of Parliament and 100s of councillors and have had a positive impact on the history of the working class in the Britain. We played a key role in the General Strike of 1926, the Battle for Cable Street to defeat fascism in 1936, and lost upwards of 500 members fighting as volunteers against fascism in Spain in 1936. We are now actively engaging in elections again and nationally our number of candidates are increasing, and our party is again growing. We are the party which cannot be bought. We are confident in our ideas and in offering working class people genuine hope and a real voice that things can change.
“Working class people have had their hopes limited, watered down, managed and ignored for many years. Conservative and Labour Governments have abandoned working class people.
However, Reform UK are especially dangerous, divisive and will hurt working class people and public services. They are another billionaire-financed party and not an alternative for ordinary working people.
“Whilst we are happy to work with others where there is broad agreement, we seek to retain our core principles. There is clearly space for us and our ideas and both the Labour Party and the Conservatives have been hollowed out as electoral forces in St. Albans, presenting smaller parties like ours with opportunities. The Communists first proposed electoral reform in favour of a system of proportional representation back in 1944. Only the two ‘main parties’ are opposed to electoral reform. Democracy is the loser.”
Presumably he thinks there is still a place for party politics in local government, even if it’s a smaller organisation like the Communist Party?
“We think local government is in a mess. Councils bankrupt, others in crippling debt, too many tiers and removed from the problems they were established to deal with. We have a Council Tax that simply doesn’t work and a central government that is hostile to local democracy and decision-making. Meanwhile the big developers get away with what they want. Parties should be associated with distinct policies and accountable to electors. We need more accountability not less.”
And although it is harder to campaign without the backing of a major party machine, he believes this is not always a negative: “In many areas where we campaign the big establishment parties are nowhere to be seen. We can bring hope to those electors who have been ignored and left behind.
“We raise cash from members. We have no big donors. But we like that, because no one could ever buy our silence or shape our policy. Above all we do not parachute candidates in from leafy suburbs and party head offices. We stand for local people. I have stood in several elections over many years in St Albans for example.”
As a socialist candidate, he wants to see homes for people not profit, the abolition of the council tax, an NHS dentist for everyone, public ownership and control, and peace instead of funding war.
“I am one of just four candidates in the SADC elections that has signed the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Pledge for Palestine! Nationally the pledge has already been made by 1,836 council candidates from across England.
“Locally it is vitally important that we oppose all forms of racism including antisemitism. Attacks on Jewish citizens must not be tolerated. We need the council to use its good offices to help bring communities together in interfaith dialogue and a process of community rebuilding based on mutual understanding and respect.”
So what sort of reactions is he getting on the doorstep?
“Amazing really. In the old days we would get the occasional ‘Go back to Russia’ or ‘Send my regards to Putin’, but not anymore, not least because we opposed the invasion of Ukraine.
“Abuse won’t deflect us. We are a British party steeped in a local history of socialism. We are partisan in that we seek to give a voice to the working people, the poor and the dispossessed. We support small businesses too because we want thriving high streets and neighbourhood communities, with legal rights for employees from day one.
“This isn’t a pipe dream. It’s doable. And the only people scared of it are those that should be, because we want to call time on the monopoly supermarkets who are spiking the price of food essentials, the foreign-owned water and energy companies bleeding us dry and those who want to privatise and destroy the NHS.
“In my local campaigning there have been a few highlights. We were asked about what we think about big water companies and the River Ver. We are clear that water companies have maximised profit and polluted our rivers and streams. They are robbing the public and ruining our habitat. There is no doubt that water needs to be nationalised and the big water companies need to pay for the damage they have done.
“It is clear that local bus services also need to be taken into public ownership and run more efficiently for vulnerable people including the elderly and those who cannot afford to run a car. this is already happening in major cities and towns.
“Council housing stock needs to be brought up to 21st century standards and repairs need to be completed more quickly and efficiently. We have met a couple of local residents who have informed us that this is not the case.
“Amusingly, one of my personal highlights was when my two youngest children came out to help with the leafletting. One of the residents came out saying ‘My letterbox said no junk mail” to which my nine-year-old son stated, ‘That is not junk mail it is a democratic communication’. He is learning the art fast.”
