Community Action Party

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Community Action Party (CAP) was a small UK political party mainly active in Greater Manchester and Merseyside. It stood for environmentalism and localism with a centre‑left stance. Its goals included free health care and education, free public transport at the point of use, and a pause on building on green belt land. It also promoted a tough approach to crime while opposing identity cards and some anti‑terrorism measures on civil liberties grounds. The party was founded in March 2002 by Peter Franzen and was based in Golborne, Greater Manchester. Its leadership included Leader Michael Moulding, Chairman Bill Burrows, and Treasurer Tracy Lavelle.

In 2004 CAP made a breakthrough in Wigan Borough, winning 18 seats and becoming the main opposition there. Over time, splits and defections reduced its influence, though it later expanded to St Helens, Salford (where it won a seat in 2008), and Warrington. CAP stood candidates in local elections and in the 2005 general election ran in four constituencies but did not win a seat in Parliament.

The party briefly formed the Democratic Alliance, an official opposition group with Lib Dem councillors from 2007 to 2009. CAP supported the Green Party in the North‑West region during the 2009 European elections. The CAP faced internal disagreements and changes to its registration; founder Peter Franzen lapsed the party, and in 2014 Mike Moulding re‑registered it. The party was deregistered again in 2016.