Taking the Initiative Party
LeaderNicola Zingwari
FoundersCharles Gordon[1][2]
Founded2016
Registered2 October 2017 (2017-10-02)
HeadquartersUnit 128, 291 Kirkdale, Sydenham, SE26 4QD
Colours  Purple
Local government (principal authorities)
0 / 19,481
[3]
Website
https://www.theinitiativeparty.org.uk/

The Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP) is a British political party emerging from the Black Lives Matter movement.[4] It was formed in 2016 by Charles Gordon,[5] and registered with the Electoral Commission in October 2017.[6][7][8][9]

History

TTIP had been formed in 2016, although it registered with the Electoral Commission one year later, with an objective of nominating thirty two candidates for the Croydon London Borough Council's 2022 election. The training courses and meetups organized by the party for people with nonpolitical backgrounds has led to the TTIP being perceived as an "inclusive" and antielitist party by some.[5] Charles Gordon, a founding member of the party, said "Our overall objective is to create a parliament that reflects the multicultural society we’ve become over the years."[9]

Sasha Johnson, a leading member of the party,[10] said that it would be "the first black-led political party in the UK".[11] It was set up with the intention of focusing on education, housing, knife crime, discrimination, taxation and the benefits system.[12] The party's mission statement says, "We want to be a new voice on the political stage to channel local knowledge and expertise, to come up with creative solutions and to make sure that resources go where they are needed most."[13]

In 2021, TTIP introduced a petition calling the government to launch a database in which the identity details of persons with a history of racial or homophobic offences would be stored. The intention was to allow companies, and organisations to use such a database as part of the background check when recruiting new employees. The petition, which received 10,979 signatures, was rejected by the government on 26 January 2021.[1]

The Taking the Initiative Party made their electoral debut in the 2021 United Kingdom local elections, standing a small number of candidates in Enfield and Croydon, without success.[14][15]

In February 2021 Trevor Phillips, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, called the party a "bunch of idiots" and criticised the group's leader, Charles Gordon, for his anti-vaccination comments.[16]

In May 2021, Sasha Johnson was shot in the head and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Five males were arrested on suspicion of her attempted murder.[17][18]

Croydon elections

Farah London
Farah London

Council elections

In the 2022 United Kingdom local elections, Taking the Initiative Party put forward 20 candidates for the 28 wards in Croydon.[19] They won no seats.

Election Votes Seats Position Role in Council
No.  % No.
2022 4,121 1.8
0 / 70
 Steady 5th No seats


Mayoral elections

Farah London, who was an independent candidate in the 2021 London mayoral election, was their Croydon mayoral candidate for the election on 5 May 2022.[20] She came sixth,[21] with 6 per cent of the vote.[22]

Year Candidate Popular vote  % of vote Position
2022 Farah London 5,768 6.0% 6th

References

  1. 1 2 "BBC Radio Derby - Devon Daley, Taking the Initiative Party". BBC. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Kilraine, Lottie (1 February 2021). "Government rejects petition calling for a register of bigots". Retrieved 27 December 2021. Charles Gordon, a founding member of TTIP, said: 'We are very disappointed with the recent response from the government in relation to the register'.
  3. ↑ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Wright, Robert (25 May 2021). "'Nothing to suggest' shooting of Black Lives Matter leader was targeted, say UK police". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Councillor training courses held to attract aspiring politicians in Croydon". London News Online. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021. The TTIP, formed in 2016 to set the agenda in government, wants to field at least 32 candidates for Croydon in the 2022 local council elections, with at least 15 candidates in other wards, such as Lewisham.
  6. ↑ "View registration". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Chorley, Matt (14 February 2018). "Time for a new party. Or twelve". The Times. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Sasha Johnson: Five arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of activist in south London". Sky News. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Ones to Watch: Taking The Initiative Party makes its electoral debut". Operation Black Vote. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021. The party was registered with the electoral commission almost four years ago, but saw its national presence rise against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter protests last summer.
  10. ↑ "Who is Sasha Johnson? The 'fearless political campaigner' who has faced 'numerous death threats'". Sky News. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Jones, Amy (26 October 2020). "'Black Lives Matter' registers as political party and could stand in local elections next year". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "The candidates hoping to win in Southbury by-election". Enfield Independent. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Sasha Johnson: who is Black Lives Matter activist shot in Peckham - and what is Taking The Initiative Party?". The Scotsman. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "Enfield By-Election results - Southbury, Chase and Jubilee Ward results announced · Enfield Council". 6 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Council by-election results - 6 May 2021 | Croydon Council".
  16. ↑ Phillips, Trevor (6 February 2021). "Minority groups should ignore the anti-vax charlatans". The Spectator. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Sasha Johnson: Five held on suspicion of attempted murder". BBC News. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Porter, Tony (29 May 2021). "Teenager appears in court over shooting of Taking the Initiative leader Sasha Johnson, 27, in Peckham on Sunday". London News Online. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "Candidates for election on 5 May 2022 | Croydon Council". 6 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "South London Press". edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk. 21 January 2022. p. 20. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Croydon Mayor Election 2022 Candidates and Results". BBC News.
  22. ↑ "5 May 2022 Election Results - Mayoral election results". Croydon Council. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
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