Democratic Party (UK, 1969)
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party, initially known as Our Party, was formed in May 1969 by Desmond Donnelly
, who had been a Labour
MP, but had resigned the whip in January 1968 and been expelled by the party two months later. His Constituency Labour Party
supported him, and they were disaffiliated from the party along with Donnelly's expulsion.
The party had an anti-socialist agenda and supported UK intervention in the Vietnam War
. In some respects the party's policies were to the right of the Conservatives
, advocating the abolition of the welfare state
, sweeping changes to the taxation system, and the return of national service. They fought two by-election
s and five seats in the 1970 general election
, although only Donnelly polled a significant number of votes.
The party wound up in April 1971 when the leader Desmond Donnelly joined the Conservative Party, without even informing the Democratic Party membership.
Desmond Donnelly
Desmond Louis Donnelly was a British politician, author and journalist who was a member of four different political parties during the course of his career, and moved between parties on five occasions.- Origins :...
, who had been a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP, but had resigned the whip in January 1968 and been expelled by the party two months later. His Constituency Labour Party
Constituency Labour Party
A Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
supported him, and they were disaffiliated from the party along with Donnelly's expulsion.
The party had an anti-socialist agenda and supported UK intervention in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In some respects the party's policies were to the right of the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, advocating the abolition of the welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
, sweeping changes to the taxation system, and the return of national service. They fought two by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s and five seats in the 1970 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
, although only Donnelly polled a significant number of votes.
The party wound up in April 1971 when the leader Desmond Donnelly joined the Conservative Party, without even informing the Democratic Party membership.