Miss Great Britain Party
Encyclopedia
The Miss Great Britain Party is a political party
in the United Kingdom
founded in 2008, whose candidates are mostly women who have entered the Miss Great Britain
beauty contest
. The party claims that the main purpose of the party is, "To make Westminster
sexy not sleazy". As of August 2009, the party no longer appears to be registered with the Electoral Commission.
is now back with a previous owner Liz Fuller
). He claimed that the main purpose of the party was to create a "Fourth way", differing from the three major British political parties: Labour
, the Conservatives
and the Liberal Democrats
. He said that:
, entered the Crewe and Nantwich by-election
under the campaign slogan "Beauty for Britain". She came last out of 10 candidates, with 113 votes (0.27%).
that was caused when Boris Johnson
became the Mayor of London
. Two candidates stood for the election, Louise Cole and Amanda Harrington. Although technically Independents, they were known as "The Miss Great Britain Party". The main policy was "To make Westminster
sexy not sleazy and to encourage voters to re-engage with politics as a means of bringing about change through beauty." The polices included:
Harrington finished 9th out of 12 candidates, winning 128 votes (0.37%), and Cole finished 11th with 91 votes (0.26%).
, then stood in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election
, with Garrett one of 26 people standing in the election. Garrett said she stood to give voters a "Real choice" in the by-election. The manifesto featured the following policies:
Voting took place on 10 July 2008 and Garrett finished fifth with 521 votes. Two of the main British political parties, Labour
and the Liberal Democrats
had declined to take part in the election.
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...
in the United Kingdom
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...
founded in 2008, whose candidates are mostly women who have entered the Miss Great Britain
Miss Great Britain
Miss Great Britain is a female beauty contest currently held in London. Between 1956 and 1989, it was held in the seaside resort of Morecambe. It is one of the oldest of its kind in the country, with the first edition held in 1945...
beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
. The party claims that the main purpose of the party is, "To make Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
sexy not sleazy". As of August 2009, the party no longer appears to be registered with the Electoral Commission.
History
The Miss Great Britain Party was founded by Robert de Keyser, the previous chairman of the Miss Great Britain contest (de Keyser had the Miss GB licence revoked after financial difficulties in 2009 and Miss Great BritainMiss Great Britain
Miss Great Britain is a female beauty contest currently held in London. Between 1956 and 1989, it was held in the seaside resort of Morecambe. It is one of the oldest of its kind in the country, with the first edition held in 1945...
is now back with a previous owner Liz Fuller
Liz Fuller
Elizabeth "Liz" Fuller is a British Television presenter, Welsh actress, TV host of ITV Wales The Pop Factory, model and media personality, known for once having owned the British branch of the Miss World franchise...
). He claimed that the main purpose of the party was to create a "Fourth way", differing from the three major British political parties: 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...
, 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...
and the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. He said that:
"We want to appeal to the millions of voters who have been reduced to cynical apathy by the dreary and sometimes rather murky world of Westminster and BrusselsEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. We want to bring some fun, glamour and transparency to the political process but at the same time the serious message that beauty does have a real power of its own to harness and create positive change."
Crewe and Nantwich
Miss Great Britain 2008, Gemma GarrettGemma Garrett
Gemma Dawn Garrett is a former holder of the titles Miss Great Britain and Miss Belfast. She is also the official face of the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone....
, entered the Crewe and Nantwich by-election
Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008
The Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 May 2008, for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, England...
under the campaign slogan "Beauty for Britain". She came last out of 10 candidates, with 113 votes (0.27%).
Henley
"Beauty for Britain" again stood in the Henley by-election of 2008Henley by-election, 2008
The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June 2008. It followed the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008...
that was caused when Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
became the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. Two candidates stood for the election, Louise Cole and Amanda Harrington. Although technically Independents, they were known as "The Miss Great Britain Party". The main policy was "To make Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
sexy not sleazy and to encourage voters to re-engage with politics as a means of bringing about change through beauty." The polices included:
- "The right to full tax relief on child care for all working mothers."
- "The rights of women everywhere to equal pay."
- "A commitment to fair pay for Britain's armed forces."
- "British voters to be given a referendumReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on continued membership of the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
." - "A pledge to launch a true British Bank HolidayBank HolidayA bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
to celebrate British beauty."
Harrington finished 9th out of 12 candidates, winning 128 votes (0.37%), and Cole finished 11th with 91 votes (0.26%).
Haltemprice and Howden
The party adopted the "Miss Great Britain Party" as its official name and formally registered with the Electoral CommissionElectoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
, then stood in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election
Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008
The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
, with Garrett one of 26 people standing in the election. Garrett said she stood to give voters a "Real choice" in the by-election. The manifesto featured the following policies:
- "Securing proper pay and frontline increments for British soldiers as well as rights to substantial guaranteed compensation in the event of injury or death."
- "Ensuring that all necessarily incurred child care costs are fully tax deductible."
- "A better deal for home buyers by abolishing stamp dutiesStamp dutyStamp duty is a tax that is levied on documents. Historically, this included the majority of legal documents such as cheques, receipts, military commissions, marriage licences and land transactions. A physical stamp had to be attached to or impressed upon the document to denote that stamp duty...
for first time buyers and making family homes exempt from inheritance taxInheritance taxAn inheritance tax or estate tax is a levy paid by a person who inherits money or property or a tax on the estate of a person who has died...
." - "A better deal for pensioners by indexing annual pensionPensionIn general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
increases against the true rise in the cost of energy, food etc rather than using the RPI and by increasing tax allowances for women under the age of 65." - "A better deal for mothers who take time off to work to have children."
- "Compulsory health and beauty education to improve the looks of Britons."
- "A British Bank Holiday which encourages people to look fabulous for the day."
- "Help motorists by capping increases in fuel duties against the rising price of oil."
- "Higher tax for higher earners with a 45 per cent rate for those on £100,000 pa rising to 50 per cent on earnings above £200,000 pa."
Voting took place on 10 July 2008 and Garrett finished fifth with 521 votes. Two of the main British political parties, 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...
and the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
had declined to take part in the election.