Colin is well-known in his Westmoreland Ward as he has been their elected independent councillor for 9 years. As the owner of ESPA UK, a company he co-founded in Bath 12 years ago, he is also well known among the Bath business community, and as a keen Bath rugby season ticket-holder, he knows a few rugby fans!
For those of you who don’t know Colin, here is his potted history so you can learn a little more about the man and why your vote and the city of Bath would be safe in his hands.
Colin moved to work in Bath around 40 years ago, as Riverside was fading as an industrial area and the city was evolving. His career in export and sales took him away for many years but, with friends and family in the area, he regularly visited Bath and was fascinated to observe the city’s progress. In 2011, when he had a 1-year-old son and a daughter on the way, he moved with his young family back to the best place he knew to bring up his children; the great city of Bath.
Initially a resident of Oldfield Park, Colin was quickly spotted by BANES’s long-serving and incredibly popular independent councillor, June Player, as someone she could trust and who would complement her unique and committed style of serving the residents of the Westmorland ward. June asked Colin to be her running partner and, in 2015, he was elected to the council.
Colin likes to use his time well and, as well as running two international businesses and being a dedicated councillor, he has coached the Bath Rugby Minis and then Juniors since 2017.
Colin is married to Madeline who runs the Soul Spa and Minerva Therapy Rooms in the centre of Bath. They live with their two children, Joe and Em, and recent additions Bilbo and Gandalf the house rabbits, in Bathampton. The whole family is behind Colin in his determination to give Bath a choice – although he’s not 100% sure about the rabbits! Colin is honest, hard-working and not political. He is passionate the unique city of Bath and its residents and will work tirelessly to serve them if elected. He would be honoured if you trust him with your vote.
Hello fellow residents of Bath. Thank you for visiting my website and I hope in these pages I can tell you about who I am, what it means to be an Independent candidate and express my commitment to and vision for this great city we call home.
The feeling around the whole country is that people have lost faith in our politicians and the main political parties. I have found in recent months that that this is true even in Bath; people feel that they are not being listened to.
A constituency MP should represent us and be the bridge between national, regional and local authorities. An MP needs to challenge when their residents don’t feel listened to, not hide behind the party political line.
As an Independent councillor of 9 years, I have a strong track record of standing up to the council, scrutinising how and why they are spending your money and calling out bad practice and undemocratic behaviour. Sadly, since the Lib Dem majority is so huge in the council, they will simply carry on regardless. As your MP I would insist that BANES follow a fair, democratic process and listen to the concerns of residents and act in a more transparent way.
I feel it is important that people have a choice and so have stuck my head above the parapet to try to give you that choice.
Demonstrate your desire for your voice to be heard and make your vote count. Vote Independent
Why an Independent MP for Bath?
An Independent politician is not affiliated with any political party and is not forced to accept the party-political line. They can be free to vote and fight for the causes that most affect their constituency and can steer clear of the political point-scoring and the need to put the party above the best interests of constituents, that has put so many people off politics and politicians in recent years.
Many people have asked about Colin’s manifesto. The truth is that manifestos only really count if you are the party in power. Out of the past 32 years, our MP has only been part of the government for 7 of them. Bath has always been willing to plough its own furrow with its incredibly unique traits, but it needs a strong voice to represent it. If your MP is not in the party in power, they will continue to be led by their party’s national agenda, which is not necessarily aligned with the best interests of Bath.
An independent MP will always fight for what is right for Bath
A vote for Colin is like having a seat in Parliament for the city of Bath. He is your voice, not the voice of a political party.
Why should the people of Bath be brave enough to make a change and vote Independent?
We are a city of a diverse mix of ‘born and bred’ and those who have chosen to make Bath their home simply because they believe it’s the most wonderful city in the UK.
Bath is our gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage City, but it has a unique combination of challenges and opportunities that our national parties won’t recognise:
- Lack of affordable housing.
- A beautiful but congested valley site that we haven’t got a plan to manage.
- Limited opportunity to grow economically and provide employment.
- A vibrant student population whose needs we must balance with residents.
- A mix of excellent but over-subscribed state schools mixing with a high proportion of private education.
- A city centre that is only slowly recovering from the pandemic.
- Tourism that is both an economic essential and a strain on our resources.
A vote for Colin will mean a focus on those local issues, as well as being a constituency MP who will listen, respond and act on the representations of residents, something that has been particularly sadly lacking in the last two terms of government.
Tactical voting
The Liberal Democrat party’s strangle-hold on Bath has been significantly bolstered by anti-Conservative tactical voting in recent years. In 2024 the landscape has changed significantly.
Tactical voting to keep the Conservatives out is no longer necessary due to their much diminished national standing.
The local Bath Conservative party has been decimated post their losses in the 2023 local elections. There are now no Conservative or Labour councillors in the City of Bath. All BANES councillors are Lib Dem apart from two Green councillors and two Independent councillors – Colin Blackburn & June Player in Westmorelands.
The Carole Vorderman backed campaign to vote the Tories out across the country with tactical voting (stopthetories.vote) says this about Bath:
Tories unlikely to win here, you can vote with your heart!
At last Bath Residents are free to vote for the candidate they believe will best represent them. The Lib Dems will not be voted into government so you need to vote for someone who will give you a voice.
Independent Councillor Colin Blackburn is a long standing, much respected local individual, who lives in Bath with his family and has his business in Bath. He understands Bath and its BANES and is actively engaged in many areas across the city.
If the Lib Dems are to be beaten, Bath residents need to get behind one candidate – yes – tactical voting! Colin is that candidate. He can win. The others cannot.
Labour never do well in Bath, they have no councillors. Campaigning is expected to be limited.
Colin has a full campaign team behind him made up of motivated volunteers.
A vote for any other candidate will only assist Wera Hobhouse in her mission to remain as Bath’s MP, which would leave us again in the position of having an MP who is unwilling to challenge or scrutinise the activities of BANES.
It’s a simple choice – Colin or Wera?
Bath to decide on the 4th of July
Let’s make it Bath’s Independent Day!
Promoted by Colin Blackburn on behalf of Colin Blackburn – Independent @ 5 Lyndhurst Mews, Bath BA2 3FZ
Testimonials
Malcolm, re Bath Abbey Hustings .
Hi Colin
Thank you for the calm way you spoke last night at the hustings at Bath Abbey.
You brought common sense to the questions asked.
It was a pity deeper debate didn’t happen on some of the topics raised, rather than a 90 second sound bite with no comeback on views expressed.
However you came across as someone who cares, and really thinks through issues rather than just trotting out party soundbites so thank you
Malcolm (Bath resident)
Unsolicited email, details supplied.
Jo, Widcombe
I will be voting for Colin Blackburn as I really trust him to represent the people of Bath.
I feel disillusioned with the current representation. I feel passionately about climate change however, I am disappointed in Liveable Neighbourhoods as I feel the pollution is displaced into less affluent areas and traffic problems are made worse. Only certain views have been listened to and no clear impact assessments openly shared.
I trust Colin – he genuinely cares about communities and their well being.
Mark Reynolds, long term Bath resident, aspiring Independent Councillor
I first met Colin in early 2023 at a BANES Council community engagement meeting. Colin introduced himself and suggested we get together for a chat. I visited Colin’s Offices and as a result I did something I never had considered doing before. I stood as an Independent Councillor candidate in the 2023 Local Elections for Southdown in Bath.
With Colin (and Cllr June Player’s) sage advice and help, myself and running mate were amazed to see the support we received in Southdown. We came a close second to the pair of long-established Lib Dem Councillors.
I am now part of Colin’s campaign team of passionate volunteers, working flat out for four weeks. I wouldn’t do that for many people!
When Colin told me he was standing for the Bath in the General election I was both stunned and overjoyed. I reflected that I could not think of anyone who was more aware of Bath and its issues, whilst also possessing the necessary experience, skills and standing to represent Bath as it’s MP.
Colin and June Player are well respected by their Westmoreland Ward residents, and testimony to their ability to deliver, is the fact that they have now been twice re-elected.
I consider Bath to be very fortunate to have someone of Colin’s calibre who is prepared to step forward and invest the time, effort and determination to do the right thing for Bath at a time when the changed political landscape means that he can win.
No other opposition “Party” can.
Let’s all get behind Colin and give Bath the quality MP they deserve!
June Player, Independent Councillor, Westmoreland Ward, Bath
Colin has given a great deal to local residents, and they respect him. We wish him and his family well in his quest to bring greater transparency and accountability to Council governance in Bath
Mike and Ange Bond
We have known Colin for over 11 years during which time we have seen first hand how he and his wife Madeline have brought up their children to be just like them, kind considerate and caring. This is what is at the foundation of what Colin brings to any role in our community whether that’s as a neighbour, friend, councillor or potential MP.
There are many words (attributes) which we could use to describe Colin and the way he conducts his personal, business and community work as a councillor and which we know will be taken with him in whatever future endeavours he takes on.
Those attributes include those already listed above together with diligence, dedication, focused, hardworking and donating time for others whilst loving a challenge. We have seen first hand how Colin had to cope with managing his business through Covid and subsequent political issues by adopting an attitude of “whatever life throws at me just get on with it”. He is a positive person even when the chips are down and will put huge effort into creating successful outcomes for those around him whether its community based, employees, clients, friends or family. Having Colin at the heart of our community with these attributes and more will make a difference to our lives as he gives up his time selflessly by adopting a refreshing Independent approach to supporting our community. Its time for a real and meaningful change to how our community and country is managed at a political level and the more people we have like Colin to lead this the better. He certainly has our vote and we encourage all to do likewise.
Contact Us
If you have any issues, please let us know your concerns or write an email at : info@colinblackburn.uk
If you have emailed using an automated election template, without a direct response email, I am afraid we will be unable to respond at this time.
If we are unable to identify you as registered to vote in Bath, we will be unable to respond.