Sam Gorst
Gorst at a Liverpool Friends of Palestine rally, 2024
Deputy Leader of the Liverpool Community Independents
Assumed office
4 May 2023
LeaderAlan Gibbons
Preceded byAlan Gibbons
Councillor for Garston
Assumed office
4 May 2023
Serving with Lucy Williams
Preceded byWard Established
Majority137 (4.6%)
Councillor for Cressington
In office
2 May 2019 – 4 May 2023
Preceded byBill Jones
Succeeded byRichard Clein
Personal details
Born (1992-06-13) 13 June 1992 (age 31)
Garston, Liverpool, England
Political partyLiverpool Community Independents (since 2022)
Other political
affiliations
Labour (until 2021)
Children2

Sam Gorst (born 13 June 1992) is a British independent politician serving as the Deputy Leader of the Liverpool Community Independents, since 2023. Gorst is currently a member of the Liverpool City Council, representing the Garston ward since 2023[1], and Cressington from 2019 to 2023.[2]

He has confirmed his intention to stand in the Liverpool Garston constituency as the Liverpool Community Independent candidate at the next general election. [3]

Politics edit

Inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's 2015 leadership campaign, Gorst joined the Labour Party,[4] being elected as Liverpool City Councillor for the Cressington ward in 2019.

Prior to his election in 2019, the Labour Party launched an investigation into allegations of antisemitism on social media.[5] In August 2020, he was then suspended by the Labour Party, with it not being clear whether this relates directly to the complaints and investigation of the previous year or whether it is related to different complaints.[6]

In March 2022, Gorst was among a group of eight councillors who broke the whip to vote against the ruling Labour party's proposed budget for Liverpool City Council.[7] The councillors who took part in the rebellion were suspended by the Labour Party. Following their expulsion, Gorst became the treasurer of the Liverpool Community Independents group.

In the 2023 Liverpool City Council election, Gorst was elected as an independent for the new Garston ward, alongside independent Lucy Williams, with the pair receiving 46.6% of the vote.[1] He was one of three Liverpool Community Independent councillors to be elected, and was appointed Deputy Leader shortly after.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Election results for Garston, 4 May 2023". councillors.liverpool.gov.uk. 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  2. ^ "Election results for Cressington, 2 May 2019". councillors.liverpool.gov.uk. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  3. ^ SKWAWKBOX (2024-01-31). "Liverpool Community Independents announce Gorst to stand vs Eagle in crowdfunded parliamentary election campaign". SKWAWKBOX. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  4. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  5. ^ Thorp, Liam (2019-04-25). "Liverpool Labour candidate being investigated over allegations of antisemitism". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  6. ^ Thorp, Liam (2020-08-20). "Labour councillor suspended by party but vows to fight decision". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  7. ^ Thorp, Liam (2022-03-02). "7 things we learnt as Labour splits at Liverpool budget showdown". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2024-05-24.