Barnsley - Governance

Governance

Following the Local Government Act 1972, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council took control of surrounding towns, villages and adopted them as part of Barnsley. This resulted in names such as 'Pennine Barnsley' being invented for the market town of Penistone (more than seven miles away) for promotional purposes. Other types of 'branding' are also employed to bring surrounding places into the Barnsley orbit, such as the use of the Barnsley coat of arms on street signs which are well beyond the boundaries of the town itself.

Elections to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have seen the Labour Party retain control of the council at every election. Following the latest election in 2011 the council has 43 Labour, 13 Barnsley Independent Group, 6 Conservative and 1 independent councillors. The municipal council elect the mayor every year. On the day of the election, a parade takes place in front of Barnsley Town Hall. The parade is in honour of the new mayor. The parade is served out by the local Sea Cadet Corps Unit, including Marine Cadet Detachment (TS Diomede), Air Training Corps Squadron (148 Barnsley Squadron) and the local army cadet company.

Barnsley has four MPs: Dan Jarvis for Barnsley Central, Angela Smith for Penistone & Stocksbridge, Michael Dugher for Barnsley East and John Healey for Wentworth and Dearne CC. They are all members of the Labour party.