Mr Slipper defected from opposition leader Tony Abbot's Liberal Party last year, becoming an independent.

BBC: Australia: Speaker Peter Slipper quits amid sex scandal

Obama veterans are building a wide network of deep-pocketed groups and consulting firms independent of government, the Democratic Party and traditional liberal groups, a sweeping if not unprecedented effort outside the White House gates aimed at promoting the president's agenda and shaping his legacy.

NPR: Obama Outside Groups Forming Influence Network

The 84 member council has 40 Conservatives, 15 UKIP, 14 Labour, 10 Liberal Democrats, four Green Party and one Independent.

BBC: Norfolk County Council: Lib Dems count out coalition

It is an interesting dilemma for liberal bloggers who pride themselves on being independent, especially as it relates to the Democratic Party and its leaders.

CNN: Preston on politics: Blogging in the Obama era

Labour MP David Hanson has a ten minute rule bill requiring candidates in elections who stand as independents to declare if they are members of political parties - his Local Police and Crime Commissioner is Winston Roddick, a Liberal Democrat member who ran as an independent (although there was no particular secret about his party involvement).

BBC: Week ahead

In North Wales, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats endorsed one Winston Roddick because she said 'as an independent candidate he is free from party political pressure', and he was elected.

BBC: Have the Lib Dems found an election-winning strategy?

As a concession to the coalition's junior party, the Liberal Democrats, and in particular to Vince Cable, the business secretary, an independent commission has been set up to look at the structure of Britain's banks.

ECONOMIST: HSBC's top team