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Reflections on Service: My Time as a Councillor and Lessons for Aspiring Nationalists

By Former Councillor Lewis Allsebrook, November 21, 2025

 

As I reflect on my years in local politics, I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Heanor West on Amber Valley Borough Council. Elected in 2008 as a British National Party (BNP) councillor for this vibrant working-class ward in Derbyshire, I dedicated myself to championing community needs until 2012. Those years were a testament to the power of grassroots nationalism, where putting Britain and local residents first can lead to real, positive change.

 

Today, in 2025, with nationalism evolving through emerging parties like the National Rebirth Party or the Christian Nationalist Party, I want to share my experiences as a councillor, the commitment it requires, and an encouraging guide for those inspired to follow a similar electoral path. It's a rewarding journey that builds stronger communities and amplifies patriotic voices. 

 

Our local blog, Amber Valley Matters (now gone unfortunately), was a key platform for documenting these efforts. It chronicled everything from daily activism to major campaigns, serving as a voice for local nationalists. I’ve looked back at what we wrote there in that time period to refresh my memory and hopefully provide realistic input.

 

My Path to the Council Chamber: From Activist to Elected Representative

 

My involvement started in the mid-2000s, closely following the aftermath of the 7/7 London bombings, I was driven by a desire to address the challenges facing ordinary Britons—issues like job security, community regeneration, and preserving our national identity. As an activist with the BNP, I contributed to campaigns that highlighted the failings of the establishment. For instance, in 2007 we wrote a post on our blog, later a webpage "Trough Gate; Lemmings jumping off a cliff," exposing the expense scandals of Labour MPs in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, such as Liz Blackman claiming for luxury items like DVD players and bed linen, and Mark Todd's £25,000 in refurbishments—all on the taxpayer's coin.

 

We framed it as Labour "rats abandoning the sinking ship," urging voters to "kick them in the ballots" by supporting BNP candidates like Mark Bailey (our candidate in Erewash) and Richard Fellows (our candidate in South Derbyshire). This kind of bold, factual critique resonated and helped build our local profile.

 

Organizing energetic leafleting drives was another cornerstone, for example in 2008, Jacksdale and Westwood was leafleted in one evening. A team of us covered the entire neighbourhood in a single session, distributing materials that emphasized putting British workers first and opposing EU overreach. These hands-on efforts weren't just about spreading leaflets; they sparked conversations and built lasting supporter networks (every leaflet importantly included a well-designed contact form, helping us build our support base). 

 

Winning Heanor West in 2008 was a highlight, fuelled by local support for an alternative to the mainstream parties. As a councillor, my role was deeply fulfilling: representing around 5,000 residents on Amber Valley Borough Council, I attended full council meetings, scrutiny panels, and planning committees. I focused on practical, positive outcomes—regenerating Heanor's Memorial Park with better play areas, pushing for community consultations and upgrades to make it a safer, more enjoyable space for families.

Similarly, Heanor Regeneration was a regular theme, we advocated for repaving parts of Market Street, Derby Road, and the High Street with durable red paving, alongside initiatives like art from local students in empty shops to revitalize the town centre and boost the "Shop Local" scheme, which encouraged residents to support small businesses through prize draws.

 

We also added our voice to help find sponsors for sponsored blooming traffic islands through partnerships with Tesco, turning neglected roundabouts into vibrant community features. And we objected to developments that risked our greenbelt, ensuring affordable housing on brownfield sites, as in 2010 when the local BNP championed Brown Field Development and Affordable Housing to counter Labour ‘Tunnel Vision’, we argued against Labour's narrow focus and promoted sustainable growth.

I amplified nationalist priorities locally, like supporting British jobs through campaigns such as "British Jobs for British Workers,” where we highlighted the need for UK-based manufacturing,  and criticised foreign labour undercutting locals.

 

We gathered signatures for "Bring Our Boys Home" petitions to honour our troops, we set up stall with a trestle table and custom banner in towns across the county. People in Ilkeston lined up and ‘signed up’ to sign troops out of Afghanistan, and Alfreton said loudly ‘Support our Troops - Bring our Boys Home NOW!’," we collected hundreds of signatures at stalls to end the Afghan war and focus on British interests.

 

On the council, I voted for initiatives like the Ripley Gateway, which involved selling land to Morrison's for a supermarket but ensured replacement of open spaces with superior facilities—a new park with cricket pitches, football fields, a skate park, and more—plus funding for the Codnor relief road to reduce traffic and boost local commerce.

 

It was about being a proactive voice—tackling parking issues (exposing Derbyshire County Council's boast of 3,000 fines in 2009 ), cutting wasteful bureaucracy like the "Politically Correct Bureaucracy and initiatives wastefully spending finite resources, and fostering community pride through events like the Mercian Regiment march in Ripley, where 5,000 locals turned out in 2010. Serving Heanor West taught me that effective representation blends local action with broader patriotic values, creating lasting improvements for families and businesses.

 

The Hidden Hours: The Real Time Commitment of Being a Councillor

 

Being a local councillor is often seen as a voluntary role with a small allowance—mine was only £3,600 annually (about £300 a month)—but it's far more immersive and rewarding than that.

 

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), UK councillors typically invest 22-28 hours weekly (though I doubt that most of the LibLabCon’s zombie councillors put that time in), but my experience aligned with that, often exceeding it during busy periods. The hours aren't just about meetings; they're about building connections and delivering results. A standard week for me looked like this:

 

Council Meetings and Preparation (8-12 hours): Monthly full council sessions lasted 2-4 hours, but poring over agendas, financial reports, and policy documents added 6-8 hours more. Committees on planning or regeneration meant evening commitments, allowing me to balance a full-time job (it should be noted, I live in a two-tier local government area and I never succeeded in getting elected to the County Council [but did come close], should you serve at county level all the meetings generally take place in the daytime Monday to Friday, something to consider if you can’t give-up full time employment it may be a struggle to juggle this, but employers are legally obliged to allow time for civic duties).

 

Constituent Engagement (6-10 hours): This was the most gratifying part—handling casework through emails, calls, and ‘surgeries,’ though I encouraged residents to meet me face to face at our monthly paper stall in the town centre if they wanted to talk without prior arrangements. Residents shared concerns from housing repairs to anti-social behaviour, and I'd follow up with officers (people who work for the council) or advocate at meetings. "Walkabout Wednesdays," was an initiative I tried in 2009, it was hands-on, spending afternoons patrolling streets, identifying issues like litter or safety, and working to improve communities directly.

 

Community Initiatives (5-10 hours): Blending council work with activism, I'd organize stalls, petitions, and support events like the Mercian Regiment march in Ripley, once local activists and I did a sponsored walk in aid of regeneration work at the Cromford Canal. Leafleting drives built momentum and direct feedback.

 

Research and Admin (4-6 hours): Staying informed on issues like EU energy policies, or local extremism reports (Polish immigrants drinking in alleyways after dark frightening some local residents, which we pushed the Police to deal with), plus media responses and party coordination. During elections, like the 2009 Euros I stood on the East Midlands BNP list where we celebrated strong Amber Valley votes (and of course the BNP won two MEP seats elsewhere in the country), this surged with door-knocking marathons.

 

Overall, I clocked 25-35 hours weekly, fitting it around work. Flexibility was key—evenings for meetings, weekends for events—but the payoff was immense: seeing parks improved or petitions succeed made every hour worthwhile. It's a role that demands energy but offers profound satisfaction in serving your community.

 

A Guide for Aspiring Nationalists: Navigating the Electoral Path

 

If nationalism resonates with you—valuing sovereignty, community strength, and British priorities—the electoral process is an empowering way to make an impact. My time in Heanor West showed that with dedication, you can win hearts and seats. Here's a positive, step-by-step guide based on my experiences, encouraging you to step forward.

 

Lay the Groundwork Locally (1-2 Years): Begin as an activist in a party or group that matches your vision—today's options like the National Rebirth Party or the Christian Nationalist Party provide fresh avenues. Get involved in leafleting, petitions, and forums, we gate crashed "Community Forum’s" en-masse run by both the Tories and Labour, sometimes causing quite a stir. We hosted our own meetings with guest speakers but also focused on local issues like safety and development, build trust with people. Focus on relatable issues: jobs, housing, and military support. Invest 5-10 hours weekly to build trust and hone your message—it's the foundation of electoral success.

 

Launch Your Campaign: The Road to Election: Target a ward like Heanor West, where voters seek change on immigration or local decline. Craft a positive platform, like our "British Jobs for British Workers" push. Run campaigns intensely over 4-6 week periods: aim for 1,000 doors knocked, host stalls, and engage in debates. Budget smartly—our efficient 2009 Euros spending maximised votes. Expect 40+ hours weekly sometimes, but anytime someone spares should always be appreciated.  Authenticity wins: share your passion for Britain, and voters respond.

 

Excel in Representation: Serving with Purpose: Once elected, embrace the role fully. Prioritise residents—attend meetings diligently, scrutinize budgets for efficiency, and advocate subtly for nationalist goals. Build cross-party alliances for wins (this does not need to be formal, as they say keep your friends close, and enemies even closer), like regeneration projects. Commit 20-30 hours weekly, tracking progress through resolved issues and community feedback. It's about positive delivery: better parks, safer streets, and proud communities.

 

Overcome Hurdles with Resilience: You'll face opposition, but view it as motivation. We turned protests into support by focusing on democracy and results. Stay positive—network widely, maintain health to avoid burnout, and measure success by community uplift, not just headlines. 

 

It’s important not to make everything about the work, it’s healthy to have a drink with like minded people after a group activity or meeting, maybe shoot some pool.  Make sure your also building unbreakable relationships with other nationalists, because its together that we build the momentum needed to win, and you want those activists to come back again, don’t you!

 

Sustain and Evolve: Keep learning; Keep learning; parties change, so adapt while staying true to your values. Emphasize patriotism's positives: economy, culture, unity. Explore modern platforms like the National Rebirth Party or the Christian Nationalist Party for broader appeal. Remember, it's service-driven—ego takes a backseat to people.

 

My councillor tenure in Heanor West was enriching, proving nationalists can thrive electorally and transform lives. If this path calls to you, seize it—Britain benefits from dedicated voices. In writing this piece I went over old records writing for the Amber Valley Matters blog/webage, looked though old case emails and archived council reports, even though the BNP fell apart in the end, we did achieve a lot of good, inspired a broken community with a fresh take on local stories and our campaigns united and uplifted. As we always used to say “Onwards and Upwards.