Alliance for Democracy (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Alliance for Democracy was an electoral coalition of two British
political parties
, the English Democrats and the Jury Team. The Christian Party, and Veritas
were associates.
Its priorities were expanding the use of referenda, promoting non-career politicians, and cleaning up government and the processes surrounding the selection of the prime minister. The Alliance was launched on 10 February 2010.
and Steve Uncles from the English Democrats, Steve Radford
from the Liberal Party
, Grahame Leon-Smith from the Senior Citizens Party
and the late Richard Malbon of the Countryside Party met to consider working together in the 2005 General Election
. They met twice at the Friends House in Euston Road
, London
and agreed a common set of principles under which to consent the election, intending to stand enough candidates to obtain a collective party political broadcast
. However, the National Executive of the Liberal Party opposed the plan due to some of the policies of the Countryside Party, although that party did not stand at the election.
Although there was no formal agreement, candidates were co-ordinated so that with the exception of one constituency, the English Democrats, Liberal Party and Senior Citizens Party did not stand against each other.
, the English Democrats, Jury Team, and Popular Alliance
held a similar meeting to discuss working together at the 2010 General Election. The Popular Alliance involved the Christian Party, United Kingdom First Party
, and Veritas
, with Alan Wood
of the United Kingdom Independence Party
attending one meeting. The English Democrats invited the UK Libertarian Party to join the discussions, but they declined to participate. The first meeting of the Alliance was on 7 November 2009, again at the Friends House in Euston.
from the Christian Party, Paul Judge
from the Jury Team, Robin Page
from the United Kingdom First Party, Therese Muchewicz
from Veritas and Brian Buxton from the Popular Alliance discussed their plans for the 2010 general election, meeting five times in Euston and Vauxhall
and agreed common principles and to not to stand against each other.
The Alliance was led by the English Democrats and Jury Team. The Christian Party and Veritas had associate status, while United Kingdom First and the Popular Alliance withdrew as they were unlikely to field candidates. Following the launch of the Alliance on 15 February 2010, other parties were invited to join the Alliance, aiming to field 350 candidates. In the event about half this many stood.
Opponents have pointed to the diversity of viewpoints as a potential pitfall for the Alliance, noting in particular that while the Christian Party promises to "uphold marriage
between one man and one woman for life", leader Sir Paul is a divorcé
and used his ex-wife's alimony
to fulfil a moral obligation to cover the losses of a charity which had invested in a failed vending-machine
business on his recommendation.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, the English Democrats and the Jury Team. The Christian Party, and Veritas
Veritas (political party)
Veritas is a political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 at Hinckley golf club by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk following a split from the United Kingdom Independence Party . Kilroy-Silk served as party leader from formation, through the 2005 General Election, until...
were associates.
Its priorities were expanding the use of referenda, promoting non-career politicians, and cleaning up government and the processes surrounding the selection of the prime minister. The Alliance was launched on 10 February 2010.
Background
Following the 2004 European Union elections, representatives of four parties who stood in those elections, Robin TilbrookRobin Tilbrook
Robin William Charles Tilbrook is a solicitor and English politician, the chairman and founder member of the English Democrats.-Politics:...
and Steve Uncles from the English Democrats, Steve Radford
Steve Radford
Steve Radford is a British politician, and is leader of the Liberal Party.Radford is also a long-standing Liverpool city councillor, representing Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Ward. He is leader of the three-strong Liberal group on Liverpool City Council.Radford has been the Liberal candidate in four...
from the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK, 1989)
The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
, Grahame Leon-Smith from the Senior Citizens Party
Senior Citizens Party
The Senior Citizens Party is a political party in the United Kingdom, which focuses on the rights of people over the age of 50. They claim a membership of several thousand people....
and the late Richard Malbon of the Countryside Party met to consider working together in the 2005 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. They met twice at the Friends House in Euston Road
Euston Road
Euston Road is an important thoroughfare in central London, England, and forms part of the A501. It is part of the New Road from Paddington to Islington, and was opened as part of the New Road in 1756...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and agreed a common set of principles under which to consent the election, intending to stand enough candidates to obtain a collective party political broadcast
Party political broadcast
A party political broadcast is a short television or radio broadcast made by a political party....
. However, the National Executive of the Liberal Party opposed the plan due to some of the policies of the Countryside Party, although that party did not stand at the election.
Although there was no formal agreement, candidates were co-ordinated so that with the exception of one constituency, the English Democrats, Liberal Party and Senior Citizens Party did not stand against each other.
Foundation
Following the 2009 European electionsEuropean Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
, the English Democrats, Jury Team, and Popular Alliance
Popular Alliance (UK)
The Popular Alliance is a political party in the United Kingdom. It was formed in March 2006 by former members of other smaller political parties who were disillusioned with events and registered with the Electoral Commission on 3 March of that year...
held a similar meeting to discuss working together at the 2010 General Election. The Popular Alliance involved the Christian Party, United Kingdom First Party
United Kingdom First Party
The United Kingdom First Party was a small populist, Eurosceptic British political party. It was created in 2009 and includes a number of former members of United Kingdom Independence Party seeking independence from The EU but with transparency, probity and an ethical base unlike UKIP...
, and Veritas
Veritas (political party)
Veritas is a political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 at Hinckley golf club by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk following a split from the United Kingdom Independence Party . Kilroy-Silk served as party leader from formation, through the 2005 General Election, until...
, with Alan Wood
Alan Wood (politician)
Alan Wood is a member of the United Kingdom Independence Party. He unsuccessfully contested the United Kingdom Independence Party leadership election, 2009.-References:...
of the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
attending one meeting. The English Democrats invited the UK Libertarian Party to join the discussions, but they declined to participate. The first meeting of the Alliance was on 7 November 2009, again at the Friends House in Euston.
2010 general election
Steve Uncles and Elaine Cheeseman from the English Democrats, George HargreavesGeorge Hargreaves (politician)
James George Hargreaves , known as George Hargreaves or J. G. Hargreaves, is a religious minister, political campaigner, leader of the Christian Party , and former music producer and songwriter.-Early life:...
from the Christian Party, Paul Judge
Paul Judge
Sir Paul Judge is a British businessman and politician. He is Chairman of plc, a director of ENRC plc, of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, of Standard Bank Group Ltd of Johannesburg and of Tempur-Pedic International Inc...
from the Jury Team, Robin Page
Robin Page (journalist)
Robin Page is a farmer, journalist, political activist and former television presenter.Born in Barton, Cambridgeshire, Page presented One Man and His Dog, a television show featuring sheepdog trials...
from the United Kingdom First Party, Therese Muchewicz
Therese Muchewicz
Therese Muchewicz is a British politician. She is the secretary and acting leader of the Veritas Party.Muchewicz was educated at Durham University, where she read theology. She later studied at the University of Leeds after completing a postgraduate Law degree. She worked as a teacher of religious...
from Veritas and Brian Buxton from the Popular Alliance discussed their plans for the 2010 general election, meeting five times in Euston and Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
and agreed common principles and to not to stand against each other.
The Alliance was led by the English Democrats and Jury Team. The Christian Party and Veritas had associate status, while United Kingdom First and the Popular Alliance withdrew as they were unlikely to field candidates. Following the launch of the Alliance on 15 February 2010, other parties were invited to join the Alliance, aiming to field 350 candidates. In the event about half this many stood.
Opponents have pointed to the diversity of viewpoints as a potential pitfall for the Alliance, noting in particular that while the Christian Party promises to "uphold marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
between one man and one woman for life", leader Sir Paul is a divorcé
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and used his ex-wife's alimony
Alimony
Alimony is a U.S. term denoting a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce...
to fulfil a moral obligation to cover the losses of a charity which had invested in a failed vending-machine
Vending machine
A vending machine is a machine which dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts currency or credit into the machine....
business on his recommendation.
Constituent parties
- Christian Party
- English Democrats
- Jury Team
- Popular AlliancePopular Alliance (UK)The Popular Alliance is a political party in the United Kingdom. It was formed in March 2006 by former members of other smaller political parties who were disillusioned with events and registered with the Electoral Commission on 3 March of that year...
- UK First Party
- VeritasVeritas (political party)Veritas is a political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 at Hinckley golf club by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk following a split from the United Kingdom Independence Party . Kilroy-Silk served as party leader from formation, through the 2005 General Election, until...