Who are the TRUE independents?

"Independents" these days are seldom what they seem.
There was a time when they were exactly what they proclaimed, but now, as at Boston Borough Council for instance, the independent controlling party has a distinct leadership structure.
At County Council level though, we are left a little bemused.
Lincolnshire Independents was established in July last year, and since last June's elections appears to have undergone some changes of membership.
But the issue of who's really who is not especially clear.
If you visit Lincolnshire County Council's website and seek the list of independent councillors,you are presented with the following:-Bill Aron (Horncastle & Tetford,) Chris Brewis (Sutton Elloe,) Michael Brookes (Boston Rural,) Graham Dark (Spalding South,) John Hicks (Stamford North,) Ramonde Newell (Boston West,) Marianne Overton (Branston & Navenby,) and Jim Swanson (Spilsby Fen.)But Lincolnshire Independents own list is a little different.
The same members listed are: Bill Aron, Chris Brewis, and Marianne Overton and Jim Swanson.
But it then goes on to name Boston Borough Council's leader Richard Austin as the member for Boston South - even though he lost the seat to the Conservative Paul Skinner -
Mike Williams (Grantham East) which the County Council says is represented by Conservative Paul Carpenter, Craig Leyland (Woodhall Spa) which the County Council says was held by Tory Denis Hoyes, at the last election.
The Lincolnshire Independents' list does not include Councillors Brookes, Newell, Dark, or Hicks.So it appears that the Lincolnshire Independents list is a mish-mash of elected councillors, some of whom claim allegiance with the formal party and some of whom do not, plus candidates who failed to make the grade at the elections in June.
As far as we are concerned, the only ones who matter are those who represent Boston.
Councillor Newell, for instance, claims to have opted to join the independents so as to get a coveted seat on the county's Highway's Committee - even though he was elected as a Boston Bypass Independent candidate.
Councillor Brookes, as far as we are aware, stood as an "independent" Independent, but appears on one list but not another.
We really would like some clarification on all of this, as Lincolnshire Independents (the group) will surely prove at some point to be a party with an agenda - and we think that it is important to know where Boston's elected representatives stand.

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