Story by CHRISTINE SEXTON. BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service

A THURROCK councillor is hoping to take the Independents' success at the local elections to the national stage by standing as a parliamentary candidate.

Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West has launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance his bid for the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat.

The seat is currently held by Stephen Metcalfe who won the 2019 general election with 29,973 votes – 66.2 per cent of the vote while Independent Kerry Smith gained just over 3,000 votes but Mr Speight is not deterred.

He said: "Realistically, it's a very long shot to think an independent might win in this seat, just look at recent results and consider the numbers but stranger things have happened in elections.

"In the local elections in this constituency in May, more than 7,000 people voted for independent candidates – and ten were elected! Two others missed out by fractions.

So there's potential for an upset."

Mr Speight, the editor of Thurrock Nub News, added: "The key is to give people a valid and authentic choice. Myself and local independent councillors are not the Monster Raving Looney Party!

"We are ordinary people, fed up with our stagnant and often repugnant political hierarchy. We just want to make a difference."

Mr Speight, who has lived in Stanford-le-Hope for more than 20 years, says while the July 4 election had 'in some ways has come a little soon as the groundswell for independent thought grows in south Essex', he believes independents must 'seize the opportunity' and added he welcomed support given by fellow independent councillors in both Thurrock and Basildon.

He added: "Winning this bellwether constituency seat would be amazing but a longer term aim is to increase the independent presence on local councils, where we can effect direct influence and propagate change.

"It is important to smother the toxicity in local politics that led, as the most dramatic example, to the catastrophic financial collapse of Thurrock Council."

Mr Speight's Crowdfunder has currently raised £560 of a £3,000 target.

He has pledged to take no personal expenses from any money raised and has funded his own deposit.

Any money that is not spent from the crowdfunder will be distributed to local community good causes.

Declared candidates: From left - Stephen Metcalfe, Dave Thomas, Jack Ferguson, Elizabeth Grant and Neil Speight

Other candidates confirmed to be battling out the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat include the current MP, Conservative Mr Metcalfe, Basildon councillor Jack Ferguson for Labour, Elizabeth Grant standing for the Green Party and Dave Thomas standing for the Liberal Democrats. James McMurdock was nominated as the Reform Party candidate.

The deadline for nominations is today (Friday, 7 June).

Mr Speight's election campaign messages can be viewed via this link to his campaign page.