The Blah! Party
Encyclopedia
The Blah
! Party is a British
protest group, formerly a minor political party
aimed at attracting protest vote
s. It was founded in September 2006 by punk rocker Raymond 'Captain Sensible
' Burns.
The party was largely modelled on the principle of direct democracy
, with suggestions being made by anyone on the party website. These suggestions would then be voted on by the membership, resulting in a "rolling manifesto
." At the end of 2008, it de-registered and refocussed itself as a protest group.
lose weight, stopping the FA paying Sven Goran Eriksson, and stopping "chav culture and the idolisation of airhead celebrities like the Beckhams, Paris Hilton and Jade Goody", alongside more serious policies of opposing the Iraq war and ID cards, instead spending money on public transport, hospitals and renewable energy.
, with the party logo and details on joining for free printed on their packets, but it also received non-financial support from PR company Propaganda. The party received £168,309 in the last quarter of 2006. The party was fined by the Electoral Commission
in 2007 for late return of accounts.
, former Official Monster Raving Loony Party
deputy leader Melodie Staniforth, Robert Staniforth, Sadie Ingoldby, Shaun Nightingale and Gary Spate.
ward, Bradford
. He gained 69 votes (1.6%).
Deputy leader Melodie Staniforth stood in the Holme Valley North ward of Kirklees
as 'Boney Maroney' in 2008. She gained 38 votes (0.68%). She resigned shortly afterwards.
Blah
- In music :* Blah Blah , a 2006 EP and song by Lady Sovereign* Blah Blah Blah , 1986* Blah Blah Blah , 1996* "Blah Blah Blah" , a 2010 single by Ke$ha from her debut album Animal...
! Party is a British
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...
protest group, formerly a minor 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...
aimed at attracting protest vote
Protest vote
A protest vote is a vote cast in an election to demonstrate the caster's unhappiness with the choice of candidates or refusal of the current political system...
s. It was founded in September 2006 by punk rocker Raymond 'Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...
' Burns.
The party was largely modelled on the principle of direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
, with suggestions being made by anyone on the party website. These suggestions would then be voted on by the membership, resulting in a "rolling manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
." At the end of 2008, it de-registered and refocussed itself as a protest group.
History
The party was launched on 24 September 2006 at a conference in Manchester, coinciding with the Labour Party conference. The party was debt-free in 2008, with a membership of 8,544, up from 5,000 in 2007. Initial policies included making John PrescottJohn Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
lose weight, stopping the FA paying Sven Goran Eriksson, and stopping "chav culture and the idolisation of airhead celebrities like the Beckhams, Paris Hilton and Jade Goody", alongside more serious policies of opposing the Iraq war and ID cards, instead spending money on public transport, hospitals and renewable energy.
Sponsorship
The party was largely funded by a sponsorship arrangement with Seabrook Potato CrispsSeabrook Potato Crisps
Seabrook Crinkle Cut Potato Crisps are a brand of crisps in the United Kingdom. They are produced in the Northern English city of Bradford and are extremely popular in the north, and distribution is increasing in the south. The company does offer a mail order service, where customers can buy boxes...
, with the party logo and details on joining for free printed on their packets, but it also received non-financial support from PR company Propaganda. The party received £168,309 in the last quarter of 2006. The party was fined by the Electoral Commission
Electoral 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...
in 2007 for late return of accounts.
Handover of power
On 11 September 2007, Propaganda (the PR company responsible for the founding of the party) stepped down from the running of the party and handed total control to Captain SensibleCaptain Sensible
Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...
, former Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
deputy leader Melodie Staniforth, Robert Staniforth, Sadie Ingoldby, Shaun Nightingale and Gary Spate.
New website and de-registration
In December 2008 Propaganda closed the website. The party ended its association with Propaganda and Seabrook, launching a new website. At the same time it de-registered from the register of political parties, deciding to instead be a protest group.Elections
The first candidate was Carl Finlan, who stood in the 2007 local elections in Thornton and AllertonThornton and Allerton
Thornton and Allerton is a Ward in Bradford Metropolitan District in the county of West Yorkshire, England, named after the villages of Thornton and Allerton around which it is drawn....
ward, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. He gained 69 votes (1.6%).
Deputy leader Melodie Staniforth stood in the Holme Valley North ward of Kirklees
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
as 'Boney Maroney' in 2008. She gained 38 votes (0.68%). She resigned shortly afterwards.