Henry Nowak Murder: Southampton Labour's "Joint Statement" That Isn't a Joint Statement At All

 

 

Following Andrew Pope's request to the Leader of Southampton City Council to make a Joint Statement with leaders of all political groups this morning, here is what they have deemed a "Joint Statement". Andrew Pope responds:

"Councillor Bogle's "Joint Statement" is nothing of the sort.

It only involves two councillors, and they are both Labour councillors. What I suggested was a united front, putting political parties to one side and Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform, Tories and Greens all speaking as one. But she hasn't even tried.

And it doesn't support the independent investigation into Police started by Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, preferring to back the widely discredited IOPC.

Councillor Bogle says that she wants unity. But she doesn't even attempt to provide unity.

She carries on as if Labour still has a majority on the Council. Even in this situation, Southampton Labour cannot put party politics to one side and it can't say or do what is in Southampton's interests. 

At least I tried."

 

Statement from Southampton City Council's Labour Councillors: 

"Following disorder in the city last night, Southampton City Council has issued a joint statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Sarah Bogle, and Councillor Toqeer Kataria, Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Leisure.
Statement from Southampton City Council on protests in Southampton on Tuesday 2 June:
Last night’s events in our city were deeply concerning, and I know many residents will be feeling unsettled this morning.
Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the family and friends of Henry Nowak. His death was an appalling and unforgivable crime and has had a profound impact across our city. 
Southampton is a city that has always taken pride in the strength of our communities to come together in difficult times. There is no excuse for the kind of violence and disorder we saw last night. 
While there are understandably strong views about the police's handling of Henry Nowak’s murder, it is important that we allow the IOPC to conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation so that the facts are clearly established.
This is a moment for responsible leadership at every level. Those commenting from outside our city should take care not to use language that could inflame tensions. Our priority must be to respect Henry Nowak's memory and support our communities to come together, not add to division.
Council crews are out this morning to clear the damage caused by last night's disorder and there will be an increased community safety and reassurance presence in the affected areas. We will continue to work with our communities and partners to keep Southampton a safe, inclusive, and welcoming city for all.
At times like this, it is more important than ever that we stand together and focus on what unites us.
- Councillor Sarah Bogle, Leader of Southampton City Council
- Councillor Toqeer Kataria, Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Leisure"

 

Henry Nowak Murder: Andrew Pope's Open Letter To Leader of the Council

Andrew Pope has written to the Leader of Southampton City Council, Labour Councillor Sarah Bogle, with an open letter following the conviction and sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, murderer of Henry Nowak.

 

Andrew Pope

It is copied below. It has also been sent as a letter to the Daily Echo, and as a media release.

You can contact us at the details at the link here.

"Dear Councillor Bogle,

I write to congratulate you on your elevation as Leader of Southampton City Council. With power comes responsibility to represent all of Southampton, particularly in times of crises.

In your recent Leader's Corner, you ask for suggestions as to how to attain unity in the light of Vickrum Digwa's murder of Henry Nowak in Portswood near the Unversity that I attended. Digwa has received his punishment under our justice system - life imprisonment with 21 years minimum. Digwa should not be seen as representative of Sikhs.

We should not respond with "rage" at Henry's treatment. We should channel any anger into constructive action to protect our City and its reputation, and to retrain the Police and if necessary, punish those who made mistakes.

I was welcomed into the Sikh community when our friend and colleague Del Singh was murdered in Afghanistan in 2014. We paid our respects at his funeral at the Crematorium and at the Gurdwara. I remember Del frequently, He was killed by religious extremists, trying to promote peace and reconciliation.

Henry Nowak was killed by a religious extremist. Somebody who warped the beliefs of Sikhism, just as the Taliban warp the beliefs of Muslims.

Any reaction to his murder that is also extreme tarnishes the needless death of a young student in our City, and is not constructive. Nowak's family have indeed asked for Henry's death to not incite racism, division or to be about Sikhs. The family want constructive action, not violence.

Overnight, we have had national news report on violence in our City. Violence incited by He-who-shall-not-be-named in an irresponsible call for "pure cold rage". Thugs have been incited by the Leader of the Reform UK party, just as their party's idol Donald Trump incited needless violence in the USA and commits needless violence in Iran that affects us all, with Trumpflation at the petrol stations and in the supermarkets.

Therefore, I urge you to put out a Statement to this effect, a joint statement agreed with all political groups at Southampton City Council - Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform.

Such a statement should back the Police and Crime Commissioner's call for an independent investigation into the Nowak incident. I have disagreed with Donna Jones on many things, including on the performance of the Police where I have had to quote her own office's figures back at her. But on this, I agree with her that it should be urgent. There is a very low level of trust in the IOPC's independence, so their investigation cannot be the only one.

Such a statement would be how to show unity and that you can look beyond your parties and in the interests of Southampton and its people.

Being an independent, and part of the Independent Network, we do not have party policies or a whip.

Being independent gives us the ability to see things more clearly and more objectively, free from party loyalties.

I offer you my advice as an independent, and hope that you will take it.

Regards,

Andrew Pope

Independent Network

Southampton Independents"

Councillor Sarah Bogle has replied to say:

"A statement is going out shortly.

Thanks for your concern."

 

We await the statement.

 

 

LABOUR'S FORCED COUNCIL CHANGES: SIGN OUR PETITION AGAINST THE BIG POLITICAL PARTIES LETTING YOU DOWN AGAIN!

Labour Robbing Democracy From Southampton People

We think there should be a Referendum before any councils are changed. Do you? If you do, please sign Andrew Pope's petition.  Andrew, who is a member of the Southampton Independent Network says:

 

 

 

"Do you want the forced Council Changes to be imposed on you from Westminster bureaucrats?

Did you know that starting next year, Keir Starmer's failing Labour Government will be forcing Southampton to join with the Waterside, Eastleigh, and Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams to form a new "South West Hampshire" council.

All of the district and borough councils will be scrapped. In May 2027, it is planned to have elections to a council that does not even exist yet.

Your voice will be diluted. Your vote will be diluted. You will be forced to pay more taxes. The savings that are claimed will not eventuate, just like happened with a Tory Government in Somerset.

Some people on the Waterside object to this, under the "New Forest Together" banner. Some people in Eastleigh object to this. Some people in Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams object to it too, under the "Test Valley Together" banner.

We at Southampton Independents want to hear what Southampton people think about it.

Did you know that you were apparently "consulted" about it? Most people did not.

Representatives of all the big political parties - councillors and MPs - have been contacted by us, repeatedly, going back for TEN YEARS, to ask them to support a Referendum before any councils are changed or elected mayors brought in.

Ten years ago, some of them supported a Referendum. Some of them helped our campaign then.

But more recently, they have let you down again. NONE OF THEM SUPPORT A REFERENDUM NOW. I've asked them time and again.  

They have let the Labour Government bully them into submission.
You are being ruled by civil servants in London, and the Labour MPs and Ministers in the Labour Government have let them do it to you - Angela Rayner, Jim McMahon, Steve Reed and more - all weak, and two of them were failed Labour councillors. 

Plus the local councillors from all of these big political parties have also failed to resist in any organised or effective way. 

I tried to educate them. I tried to get them to stand up for you.
But they haven't. 

So I ask you to sign my petition to show them that we, the people, should be asked and that we should not be let down by the big political parties not standing up to faceless bureaucrats in Westminster and Whitehall.

Independents stand up for what is right. We are not told what to do by political parties. Local people respect independents because of this. Join with us to show the political parties that they are wrong to ignore the people of Southampton." 

 

 

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: Democracy Under Threat - Electoral Commission and The Times Newspaper Confirm AI Chatbots Conning Voters in England AND Scotland

 

Andrew Pope

Campaigner Andrew Pope says: 

"At the beginning of this month, before the local elections and Parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, I investigated and reported on an AI chatbot called DOLA AI giving out misleading information in relation to my election in Redbridge ward, Southampton.

I gave my investigation to a freelancer journalist working for The Sunday Times.

And I contacted the Electoral Commission. Their full response is below.

Today, over a fortnight after the elections in England, Scotland and Wales, The Times is reporting that AI chatbots were misleading voters in Scotland.

My investigation showed it happening in Southampton, here in England. Like I said to the journalist weeks ago, I had no doubt that it was not just in Southampton. To say again, this was BEFORE the elections.

And I have had it confirmed in writing directly to me by the Electoral Commission that the AI chatbots misleading voters is not just limited to here in Southampton.

It is a national scandal of misinformation of voters that could have led to changes in outcomes to elections across the whole of the UK.

The Electoral Commission told me they are "aware" but what did they do about it? I did not see any evidence of action.

Our democracy is under threat from tyrannical leaders in the USA, China and Russia. 

And now, state actors and other malign actors are using AI chatbots to undermine democracy even more.

During the recent local elections, I uncovered election malpractice that was denied by Council staff and of which the Labour candidate in Redbridge saw no wrong, despite votes being in piles instead of in singles and folded, right before his eyes. 

The Police investigated and said that "no offence" occurred, as reported by the Daily Echo. Obviously I would not have reported it, if I did not experience it for myself and with my team at the count.

I have proved yet again that it takes independents and the Independent Network to call this out - the big political parties cannot be trusted.  

The UK Parliament needs to act to protect our democracy, and it needs to do it now. But the vast majority of the Members of Parliament are from the very corrupt parties that have led us to this. We are in big trouble."

 

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said:

"Further to your recent email about DOLA AI and the information that it provided in the run up to the recent local elections.  I have forwarded your concerns to the team reviewing AI deepfakes for their consideration.

They have advised that they are aware of previous instances where AI chatbots have generated false or inaccurate information relating to elections, and we fully recognise the potential for such outputs to mislead voters and undermine confidence.

 

The Electoral Commission has taken this into consideration, and we always remind voters to engage carefully with online material. You can find more about what we are doing in this space here: Engaging with campaign material at elections | Electoral Commission?"

 

 

ROADS CAMPAIGN: "Will the Labour-Run Council Ever Get A Grip of our City's Road Works?" Campaigner Andrew Pope Asks

 

Map of roads disruption in Western Southampton May 2026
Image: Causeway

Collapsed sewer repair on Shirley High Street by Southern Water
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

Collapsed sewer repair on Shirley High Street by Southern Water
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

This week, the BBC and Daily Echo reported on Southern Water breaking its own water pipe and causing a high fountain on Shirley High Street, next to Shirley Precinct and all the shops on the main road.

It was the latest part of a farce involving a collapsed sewer, investigated and reported by campaigner Andrew Pope. He says:

"I was driving past these roadworks, which have been going for two months now.

My car got wet, I had to wind my car window up so that I didn't get wet and my car didn't get wet inside from the water feature brought about by the incompetence of Southern Water and its contractors.

This disruption has affected residents and businesses. As a local businessman, I've contacted the Federation of Small Businesses to ask them to help me and other local business people.

As a local resident, I've also contacted the Council, local Lib Dem and Green councillors, Southern Water's contractors and local media. 

Will the Labour-Run Council ever get a grip of our City's road works?

I already asked them to cancel the Balfour Beatty contract, which they refused to do, as reported by the Daily Echo.

 

Guess the Pothole Rownhams Road 2026
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

And I had to embarrass the Council and their Balfour Beatty contractors, by putting rubber ducks in the potholes, also reported by the Daily Echo. Many people heard about my actions to humiliate the Labour-run Council, and the serious point was for the Council to take control of our roads.

 

Extract from Andrew Pope Election Leaflet April 2026
Image: Southampton Independents / Independent Network

  

So as the Council haven't got a grip, I am now placing more demands on the Council and councillors.

I want to see all those privatised utility companies - water, gas, electricity, telephone, broadband - have to PAY MORE FINANCIALLY to dig up our roads.

They should have never been privatised in the first place. Public services have been broken up and sold off for private profit, and it has not been for the benefit of taxpayers, citizens or businesses.

The permit system has been an utter failure, as proved by the huge amount of disruption across Southampton.

Now Southampton must have disruption charging, also known as lane rental. The former Cabinet Member for Transport botched its first attempt. There have been four different people in the role over the past two years:

1. Eamonn Keogh, who I called to be sacked, and he was, 
2. Christie Lambert who was only in place for a short while, then 
3. Alex Winning who lost his seat this month, now 
4. Jacqui Rayment since the Full Council this week.

Will the latest Councillor in that role finally sort this out? Past experience suggests not, but perhaps there is a faint hope."

 

Reform UK Councillors Quitting... So what Is Reform UK Actually Like... On the Inside? "Nightmarish"... Says Andrew Pope

Graph of Redbridge ward result, 2026 Southampton City Council
Image: Southampton Independents

 

 

At the 2026 local elections, and the Scottish and Welsh Parliament elections, Reform did very well, reflecting their consistent opinion poll ratings.

Reform councillors have been elected in Southampton and elsewhere, somewhat unexpectedly and surprisingly. And some are quitting almost as soon as they were elected. Here are some examples:

• BBC. 11th May 2026 (4 days after the election), "New Reform councillor quits after race post claims"
• BBC, 15th May 2026 (8 days after election), "New Reform councillor who made adult films quits"
• MSN, 14th May 2026 (7 days after election), "Councillor quits Reform over Holocaust 'hoax' post"

A Reform UK candidate - John Edwards - won the Redbridge ward where Andrew Pope stood as an Independent Network candidate for Southampton City Council. The graph above shows the result. Andrew was third, slightly behind Labour but way behind Reform.

So what are the Reform UK councillors, such as Edwards, who is also the Chair of Reform UK in Southamptno, actually like? 

And what is Reform UK actually like... on the inside?

We have inside information. Slightly old information, but inside information.

Briefly in 2024, for around two months, after the June General Election Co-Founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope was a member of Reform UK. He quit in absolute disgust very shortly after, in September 2024.

Andrew says: 

"After the recent local elections, some of my supporters have suggested to me that I join a political party. I've said no, because I know better than that. My experience of the parties is bad, very bad.

Political parties have tried to recruit me, on several occasions, ever since I quit Labour in 2015. I have been independent of the big political parties ever since 2015. Apart from two months. that is.

Having met a few of their people, I was impressed by some of them. After the 2024 General Election, I joined Reform UK to see what it was like on the inside, and to see whether it was full of racists, fascists and incompetents, as alleged by many.

It wasn't full of racists and fascists but some of the people I met, and the attitudes that I heard, were definitely racist and some were definitely fascist. I found this deeply disturbing and it confirmed my worst fears.

What I also found was a massive amount of incompetence and disorganisation.

And a cult. A cult of Nigel Farage and his love for Margaret Thatcher and her disastrous approach to changing our country that damaged so many millions of people's lives. And still does - just look at the impact of privatised water, privatised trains and buses, privatised gas, privatised roads, privatised electricity and more! The Tories would privatise their grannies. It's chaos!

So I believe now that is what Reform UK is really about - bringing back Thatcherism which did our country so much harm the first time. The new Hampshire Reform UK councillor that is their group leader, George Madgwick, has consistently broken employment law, as reported by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

I had hoped that I could help Reform UK to be a truly new force in Southampton, and that it could have a diversity of views on policy.

But I couldn't do that. Because it isn't. And it couldn't.

As another supporter of mine reminded me, Reform is an anagram of "former". Reform is just another bunch of Tories, as proved by the recruitment of so many ex-Tory MPs and councillors, and George Madgwick fits that mould too.

I was being over-optimistic and I even agreed with local members to be the Reform UK candidate in the 2024 Shirley ward council by-election. But they couldn't even get me through their national incompetent vetting process properly or in good time, through no fault of mine. What a blessing in disguise that was!

I failed their candidate vetting, which they rushed and got wrong. I was not given any reason. In fact, I had to put them under extreme pressure to get any reasons, which took them months to provide when I had to threaten to go to the Information Commissioner. They were incompetent.

But it was a relief and was irrelevant anyway that I failed the vetting because I had already quit when I saw their incompetence, and the racism and fascism of some of the Reform members. 

It was clear to me that they were so disorganised and incompetent, that I could not have solved it on my own. Like when I quit Labour and refused to be in the Council's Cabinet, I would have been one of the few competent people, surrounded by ineptitude.

All big political parties seem to be the same.

All riddled with corruption, as proved by the Greens' Zack Polanski failing to pay council tax and lying about voting, Reform UK's Nigel Farage failing to declare £5 MILLION, and local Southampton Labour MP Satvir Kaur taking £10,000 from a convicted criminal.

Perhaps Reform UK is different now, nearly two years later. But I doubt it.

Because what I saw was ugly, very ugly indeed.

Ugliness plus some racists, some fascists, Thatcherites, disorganisation and incompetence. 

That is what Reform UK was about then.

But like I say, maybe it is different now. Or maybe not.

Ever since 2015, I have been independent of the big political parties. Those nightmarish two months reminded me why I do not want to be a member of the big political parties and what Reform UK truly is.

I cannot see me ever joining a big political party again, unless things change massively.

Being independent is what many residents respect, and I agree with them."

 

HOSPITAL FIRE SAFETY: Southampton General Hospital Trust Board and Council of Governors Answer Andrew Pope's Questions on Sprinklers

Andrew Pope After Council of Governors Meeting
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

After the Hospital's Trust Board refused to let him speak (yes, really) at their meeting, Andrew attended the Hospital's Council of Governors meeting. He still was not allowed to speak (yes, really) at the meeting. 

At the meeting, Andrew's questions that he had to send in and put prior to the meeting in writing, were answered by the Trust Board and Council of Governors. These are two separate committees. The latter are elected to represent patients and staff.

None of the Governors spoke in support of Andrew's request for sprinklers. 

None of the Governors asked questions of the members of the Trust Board present to hold them to account on fire safety.

Only the official response was read out as below, seemingly on behalf of the governors too who are supposed to hold the Hospital's Trust Board to account.

What do you think of all of this?

Do you agree with their answers? 

Get in touch to tell us what you think. And if you want to get involved in the campaign, or our campaigning more widely, get in touch.

 

Andrew Pope's Question 1

    Sprinklers save lives and property. In just a few weeks, over a hundred people - hospital staff, patients, and the public - have signed my petition for sprinklers at the SGH, and to make it mandatory in law. I received no direct response to my emailed questions to the Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer about the lack of sprinklers in the part of the hospital where the devastating and highly disruptive Major Incident fire occurred that destroyed the endoscopy unit and which took firefighters hours to control and resulted in hundreds of patients being moved and huge disruption to the entire Region of the NHS. I asked Emily Hudson and Joe Campbell of BBC South to find out if there were sprinklers, and there were not. Instead, what amounted to excuses were made in writing to me by Corporate Affairs. I tried to ask at the recent Trust Board but the Chair prevented me from speaking - a member of the public at a public meeting of a public service, funded by public money. Will the Council of Governors ensure that I get a written answer from the Trust Board now please, instead of Corporate Affairs and public relations people?

Trust Board and Council of Governors Response

You have previously sent a number of questions to the Trust on this matter. The response you refer to in your question was provided from the Corporate Affairs email address, which is managed by the Company Secretary's office on behalf of the Trust Board. This response was provided on 13 February 2026.

As was explained by the Chair at the Board meeting held on 10 March 2026, the 'open' session of the Board meeting is a meeting 'in public' rather than a 'public meeting'. As such, members of the public attend as observers, not as participants in the meeting.

Andrew Pope's Question 2

 

Will the Council of Governors please commit now to ensure that sprinklers are installed in all buildings at the Southampton General Hospital, and give a deadline by which this will be done? This will protect patients, staff, firefighters, property and local residents. It will also save money and disruption, as confirmed to me directly by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service when I spoke with them after the recent incident at Shirley Towers,

Trust Board and Council of Governors Response

"The installation of sprinkler systems at Southampton General Hospital would not be viable. There are a number of reasons for this approach:

    Installation of sprinkler systems would go against technical guidance. Given the height of the hospital, guidance does not recommend the installation of sprinkler systems. In part this is because the fire service is able to tackle any fires below 32 metres.
    The hospital has a working passive alarm system. This proved highly effective during the fire on 1 February 2026, alerting the Trust and supporting the safe evacuation of 502 patients.
    Sprinkler systems cause extensive damage - whether through false activation or when in response to a fire. In the management of the fire on 1 February, there was extensive water damage, which has caused the Trust to have to take the ward below the site of the fire out of action for over six months to repair the water damage. Sprinkler systems do not solely address the seat of the fire and therefore the resultant water damage would likely have been more significant and widespread, which would have resulted in more beds and facilities being taken out of action.
    The cost of retrofitting a sprinkler system across the Trust's estate would be tens of millions. This is not an effective use of public funds.

 

With regard to the minutes from the Council of Governors’ meeting held on 22 April 2026, these will be included in the papers for the next Council of Governors’ meeting approximately five days before the meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 July."

THANK YOU! ANDREW POPE INDEPENDENT BEATS THE BIG POLITICAL PARTIES AGAIN - JUST LIKE WE DID IN 2016 AND 2018

Andrew Pope Beats Political Parties YET AGAIN
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

Redbridge ward 2026 Result, Southampton City Council
Graph: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

Andrew Pope Independent candidate for Redbridge says:

 

"Dear Residents of Redbridge, Maybush and Millbrook,

ONCE AGAIN, IN REDBRIDGE WARD WE BEAT THE BIG POLITICAL PARTIES LIKE WE DID IN 2016 AND 2018! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

I was 3rd out of 7 candidates. By working together with you helping me to help you, we beat the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens. And in some areas, Labour too. 

Thank you for your support – whether you put up an election board or an election poster, or if you voted for me, or if you encouraged others to vote for me. THANKS!

Together, we’ve shown in 2026, like we did in 2016 and 2018, that an Independent can beat the big political parties. It took a lot of hard work, but we did it.

This is what the Independent Network is about – not party politics, not imposed policies from Westminster – the Indie Network is about principles, the Martin Bell principles – listening to local people and acting with local people to win together.

This was a Council election. The Council has no power over national issues. But I lost to national party Reform in a local Council election. I don’t know why. 

In Redbridge ward, you now have a Reform councillor. And two Labour councillors.

If you voted for the big political parties at Westminster, including Reform, I would like to understand why you did. Please get in touch and I will listen carefully to you.

I will be holding Reform and Labour to account. For example, the Reform Councillor John Edwards has already linked arming all Police with immigration. Southampton Labour councillors are incompetent and corrupt. They and Labour MP Satvir Kaur took £10k from a convicted criminal, with no evidence of paying it back. I’ve asked.

Get in touch if you want to help your area, your family and your friends."

Andrew Pope, Independent Network, Co-Founder Southampton Independents 

Residents of Redbridge Ward Say Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network THIS THURSDAY 7am to 10pm on 7th May!

 

 

Andrew Pope - Independent Network at Millbrook Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Jan, a new supporter says:

"I’d like to say a few words to everyone about both Andrew and the Independent Network. Andrew does his best to get everyone’s problems sorted as best he can. He is a great support for us the working people."

Ken, who has been a supporter of Andrew for 10 years, says:

"I will vote for Andrew and support him because of what he has done to protect our parks at Five Acres, Mansel Park and Green Park. He stands up against those who want to take it away from the public."

Jean, a new supporter, says: 

"I had problems with vermin and dog faeces in a neighbour's council garden.
I had complained before to the Council but nothing got done.
Worse than that, the man was angry with me. I am an old lady who is not mobile.
A week after I contacted Andrew, it was cleared up. 
Andrew got it done. It took 3 people six or seven hours.
Good luck to Andrew. I will be voting for him."

Stuart, a new supporter, says:

"I recently met Andrew Pope and found him to be a likeable, trustworthy and dedicated public servant who genuinely wants to support his constituents. 
He previously helped our street by standing with the local community against proposed warehouse development, and although the project ultimately went ahead, his effort and advocacy were clearly appreciated.

 

More endorsers of Andrew Pope are below. 

Andrew Pope is standing to be re-elected to the Redbridge ward that he represented for eight years between 2011 and 2019 - first with Labour, then as an Independent when he quit Labour  in disgust at what they were doing to the people of the area. 

Andrew was the first Southampton Independents councillor. He co-founded Southampton Independents with Denise Wyatt and other local residents and supporters.

Those supporters are still supporting Andrew. They endorse and recommend Andrew to be re-elected. Andrew has worked very hard for the area and is known for getting things done over many years.

And because of his recent hard work, Andrew has new supporters.

As quoted on Andrew's election address, residents of Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge say: 

"Andrew Pope stands up for our area. Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on the 7th May because he isn't told what to do by political parties. Andrew is Putting You First. Only Andrew Pope can beat Labour here. Enough is enough. Help him to help you and yours."

These are the words of local residents, which they have agreed to be used on our website, on our letters and leaflets, and on all social media. 

More endorsements are below.

You will see their support in the form of election boards which supporters agree to be put up, because they support Andrew Pope Independent to be the Independent councillor for Redbridge again. 

Andrew is self-funded. He pays for his leaflets, letters and election boards. He does it because he cares about the people of Redbridge. His priorities are determined by many conversations with residents.

 

Andrew Pope with Election Board in Redbridge
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

More Endorsers 

John has supported Andrew since 2016, but had previously stopped voting because he says political parties are all useless and the same, says:

 "Unlike most councillors, who owe their allegiance to one political party or another Andrew Pope, as an independent, can and does work for the people who elect him. 

We need him to be our councillor again. If he stands, I will be voting for him. You should too. 

When Andrew Pope was our local councillor, of the three councillors we had, he was the one who got things done. 

When the residents had a problem with the roadside trees not being maintained, Andrew got that sorted. 

When I had a problem with the council tax band my home was in, Andrew came to my house and helped me to get the council tax band lowered. I can't see many other councillors doing that.”

Wayne, who has been a supporter of Andrew for a decade, says:

"Andrew stands up for the area, and is not told what to do by political parties.
He is here as a representative of the people and the area.
That's what a councillor should be.
Andrew is that."

 

Andrew at Five Acres
Photo: Southampton Independents (CT)

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 7th May
Image: Independent Network

 

 

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: AI Chatbot Conning Voters - Andrew Pope Uncovers Evidence of Misleading Southampton Election Information by an AI Chatbot

 

Andrew Pope Independent Network Candidate for Redbridge Ward

 

 

BREAKING: From intelligence given to him by voters when he was canvassing for votes and delivering leaflets to voters in the Redbridge ward election, Candidate Andrew Pope has confirmed that an AI Chatbot has been giving out misleading information about the Southampton City Council elections...

 

Andrew has reported it to the Returning Officer and to the Electoral Commission, for info and urgent action. He has provided the evidence that he confirmed by checking. And he has informed the Police's Operation Ford.

 

We urge you to cross-check the information you have received about the election. 

Please read our leaflets and letters delivered to your address. 

And the information on this website and on our social media. They all contain the truth and an imprint that shows that we are accountable for what we say and print.

 

The Dola AI chatbot in question is not accountable. 

The AI chatbot has made serious errors.

The AI chatbot has no imprint. 

There is nobody to complain to at Dola, it seems. 

AI chatbots seem to be able to intervene in these elections without any regulation whatsoever. 

 

Andrew says: 

 

 

 

"It's very, very concerning. I am furious about this - not just about my election, but also because I am a Computer Scientist and my business PopeyMon is a tech business. 

I am a Member of tbe British Computer Society and we have a Code of Conduct. Obviously those responsible don't have standards.

The regulators and authorities are not stopping the AI chatbots from spreading lies about the election. I've asked them to intervene firmly and urgently.

I am working very hard to get elected, and I know from my hard work that many voters are backing me and putting up election posters and boards, but voters are being misled by this so-called "AI".

It has to stop NOW, but postal voters have already cast their ballots with this misleading information out there. It's very worrying."

 

Contact us if you are not sure, or want to ask questions. 

 

Here is some of the fake news that Andrew found.

For Redbridge ward: 

 

AI ChatBot Fails to Give Accurate Information on Redbridge 2026 Candidates
for Southampton City Council

Image: Southampton Independents (AP) 

 

AI ChatBot FAIL 1. Andrew Pope's candidacy for the Independent Network is completely missing from the list.  

AI ChatBot FAIL 2. In the Redbridge ward that Andrew is standing in, it states that sacked Labour councillor Lee Whitbread is standing. 

As reported exclusively by Southampton Independents - weeks before other local media caught up - from information that Andrew obtained from various sources, Lee Whitbread was sacked by Labour. 

Another candidate was chosen by Labour, someone with no experience and no name recognition on the doorstep or in the area - again, as confirmed by us. They are not shown on the list.

AI ChatBot FAIL 3. When asked who the candidates are, it displays completely incorrect information and shows photos of some random people from the Internet.

 

For Bevois ward:  

AI Chatbot Giving Out Almost Totally Wrong Information on Election Candidates
in Southampton City Council elections 2026
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

AI Chatbot FAIL 4. Only ONE of the candidates in the Bevois ward is correct. The rest have wrong names, wrong candidates or wrong parties, or candidates are missing. 

The AI Chatbot ALMOST COMPLETELY GETS IT WRONG. It is wrong in so many ways as to be totally untrustworthy.

 

We say again, there are strict laws and regulations around election communications, and so there should be.

Yet somehow an AI chatbot can turn up and put out fake and misleading information just days before the Southampton City Council elections. And the authorities have not stopped it.

We have told the Southampton Returning Officer and the Electoral Commission. And the Police's Operation Ford. 

How much will this affect the elections?

We ask people to check the sources of information and to check your sources. 

Our website contains quality information and an imprint, as does all of our election material and social media. 

We stick to the Independent Network's Martin Bell principles to keep local people informed and look after local people. The big parties look after themselves and Westminster. 

 

The OFFICIAL list of candidates for all wards is published by the Southampton Returning Officer Jillian Kay at Southampton City Council. It is at the link here.