Professor Tim Bale of the School of Politics and International Relations wrote an opinion piece for the Financial Times discussing the challenges independents face in the UK. He writes: “Going it alone is rarely as easy as we think. Over the past 45 years, fewer than half a dozen people have run as independents and won. Any candidate standing as an independent will have to get his or her head around the legal framework. Laws like the General Data Protection Regulation impose detailed requirements on candidates, but those affiliated with big parties can rely on HQ to train and supply local agents and organisers to ensure they don’t fall foul of the law. Without that support, independent candidates will struggle.”Find out more