Government
The municipal borough of Darwen existed for ninety-six years, from 1878. The borough was merged with Blackburn in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The town became part of the Lancashire non-metropolitan district of Blackburn, which was renamed Blackburn with Darwen in 1997, shortly before it became a unitary authority.
The population of the town declined from 40 000 in the 1911 census to 30 000 in the 1971 census.
Locally, Darwen has been represented by Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors in the main council wards for the town. In the 2008 local elections, the For Darwen Party picked up the majority of the wards in the town to put pressure on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council for Darwen to have its own council again. In June 2009 Darwen Town Council was formed.
There are five council wards within Darwen out of the 23 in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen. These are:
- Earcroft
- Marsh House
- Sudell
- Sunnyhurst
- Whitehall
Darwen had its own parliamentary constituency until 1983 when it became part of the present Rossendale and Darwen constituency. This marginal seat is currently held by Conservative Jake Berry.
Read more about this topic: Darwen
Famous quotes containing the word government:
“It is a maxim of wise government to treat people not as they should be but as they actually are.”
—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749–1832)
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“I am against government by crony.”
—Harold L. Ickes (1874–1952)