CAMPAIGNERS gathered over the weekend for the second part of the No Ceasefire, No Vote conference linking former Labour and now independent councillors across the country.

Around 150 delegates from across the north of England came together in Blackburn on Saturday to plan for the independent movement with the local government elections scheduled for May 2 and the looming general election.

Councillor Alan Gibbons, representing independents in Liverpool who left Labour and won their seats in subsequent elections, stressed the need to combine international issues with local issues.