One London
Encyclopedia
One London was a small British
political party
formed on September 1, 2005 by Damian Hockney
and Peter Hulme-Cross
. Both of them were originally elected to the London Assembly
in June 2004 as United Kingdom Independence Party
representatives, but in February 2005 announced the formation of the Veritas
group at the Assembly. With the disintegration of Veritas after its poor showing in the 2005 general election
, the two formed One London, of which Hockney is the Leader.
One London became a registered party in November 2005 and de-registered in November 2008.
would be its candidate in the 2008 Mayoral election
, promising to reverse the current mayor's anti-motorist policies and to halve the GLA
portion of the council tax
over the four-year mayoral term.
On March 27, 2008 Hockney pulled out of the race to become the mayor of London. He cited a lack of media opportunities for the candidates representing smaller parties as the reason but confirmed that the party would still contest the Assembly election.
The party received just 0.14% of the London-wide list vote, coming last in overall votes and losing both its Assembly seats.
was a central policy objective,One London concentrated its efforts on the democratic deficit
within London governance and the discrepancy between levels of taxation and public spending in London compared to the rest of the UK. It also called for the abolition of the London congestion charge
and claimed to be the first party to have predicted that the cost of the 2012 London Olympics
would exceed £10 billion.
, had just started a public campaign under that name as an attempt to build closer relations between ethnic communities following the 7 July 2005 London bombings
.
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 party
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...
formed on September 1, 2005 by Damian Hockney
Damian Hockney
Damian Hockney is a British politician and the leader of the One London Party. He was a London Assembly member and a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority from 2004 to 2008.-Political background:...
and Peter Hulme-Cross
Peter Hulme-Cross
Peter Hulme-Cross is a politician in the United Kingdom and a former One London Party Member of the London Assembly. He was also a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority....
. Both of them were originally elected to the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
in June 2004 as 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...
representatives, but in February 2005 announced the formation of the 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...
group at the Assembly. With the disintegration of Veritas after its poor showing 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....
, the two formed One London, of which Hockney is the Leader.
One London became a registered party in November 2005 and de-registered in November 2008.
2008 London Mayoral and Assembly election
In February 2008 the party announced that Damian HockneyDamian Hockney
Damian Hockney is a British politician and the leader of the One London Party. He was a London Assembly member and a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority from 2004 to 2008.-Political background:...
would be its candidate in the 2008 Mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
, promising to reverse the current mayor's anti-motorist policies and to halve the GLA
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
portion of the council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
over the four-year mayoral term.
On March 27, 2008 Hockney pulled out of the race to become the mayor of London. He cited a lack of media opportunities for the candidates representing smaller parties as the reason but confirmed that the party would still contest the Assembly election.
The party received just 0.14% of the London-wide list vote, coming last in overall votes and losing both its Assembly seats.
Ideology and policies
Although UK withdrawal from the European UnionEuropean Union
The 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...
was a central policy objective,One London concentrated its efforts on the democratic deficit
Democratic deficit
A democratic deficit is considered to be occurring when ostensibly democratic organizations or institutions are seen to be falling short of fulfilling the principles of the parliamentary democracy in their practices or operation where representative and linked parliamentary integrity becomes...
within London governance and the discrepancy between levels of taxation and public spending in London compared to the rest of the UK. It also called for the abolition of the London congestion charge
London congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
and claimed to be the first party to have predicted that the cost of the 2012 London Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
would exceed £10 billion.
Controversy
The naming of the party as 'One London' caused some comment as the Mayor of London, Ken LivingstoneKen Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, had just started a public campaign under that name as an attempt to build closer relations between ethnic communities following the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
.