Jump to content

English Democrats: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
[pending revision][pending revision]
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→2006 Crewe and Nantwich by-election: Correction of year from 2006 to 2008
Mattyness (talk | contribs)
428 edits
Line 52: Line 52:
==Elections==
==Elections==
Candidates supported by the party have stood at the following elections:
Candidates supported by the party have stood at the following elections:
====2001 Ipswich byelection====
====2001 Ipswich by-election====
At the [[Ipswich by-election, 2001|Ipswich by-election]] held on [[November 22]], [[2001]], the "English Independence Party" candidate was Nicholas Winskill, who polled 84 votes or 0.3% of votes cast, coming last out of nine contestants.<ref name="ipswich">
At the [[Ipswich by-election, 2001|Ipswich by-election]] held on [[November 22]], [[2001]], the "English Independence Party" candidate was Nicholas Winskill, who polled 84 votes or 0.3% of votes cast, coming last out of nine contestants.<ref name="ipswich">
{{cite news
{{cite news

Revision as of 20:14, 23 May 2008

English Democrats
LeaderRobin Tilbrook - National Chairman
Chairmannone
Founded2002
HeadquartersNorwich, Norfolk, England
IdeologyEnglish nationalism, euroscepticism
Political positionCentre
European affiliationNone
European Parliament groupNone
International affiliationNone
ColoursWhite & red
Website
www.englishdemocrats.org.uk

The English Democrats Party (EngDem) is an English Nationalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament.

Formation

In 1997, and in response to calls for the devolution of power to Scotland and Wales, Robin Tilbrook formed the English National Party, with the aim of reforming the defunct English National Party which had been founded in the 1960s, but had ceased operating as a party by 1981. The English National Party formed by Tilbrook included members of the Campaign for an English Parliament, a pressure group that lobbies for a devolved English parliament.

The party was relaunched as the English Democrats Party in September 2002, after merging with several other smaller political parties. In October 2004, the party merged with the Reform UK Party, which was a small splinter group from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). The New England Party merged with the English Democrats in February 2007.

The English Democrats are co-founders of the English Constitutional Convention.[1]

In December 2004, it was rumoured that Robert Kilroy-Silk, the former UKIP Member of the European Parliament (MEP) had entered into negotiation to join the English Democrats,[2] however Kilroy-Silk went on to form Veritas.

Organisation

The English Democrats have an England-wide network of area, county and some Borough officers. In April 2006, it announced full national representative coverage of the nine English Regions. In addition to the twenty-person National Council including nine area chairmen, there are 14 National Sub-Committees to expedite progress in the party development.

The national chairman of the party is Robin Tilbrook, a solicitor, who attended Wellington College, Berkshire and is a former member of the Conservative Party. The party claimed a total membership of 1,011 at the end of 2004, and 1,202 at the end of 2005.[3]

Elections

Candidates supported by the party have stood at the following elections:

2001 Ipswich by-election

At the Ipswich by-election held on November 22, 2001, the "English Independence Party" candidate was Nicholas Winskill, who polled 84 votes or 0.3% of votes cast, coming last out of nine contestants.[4]

2004 European Parliament elections

The English Democrats stood candidates for election in the 2004 European Parliament election in five of the nine regions of England. Their 2004 election canvassing leaflet featured the slogan, "Not left, not right, just English". Its candidates won 130,056 votes in total. On the same date the party received 20.25% of votes cast in the Crouch ward in Basildon, when the English Democrat candidate finished second ahead of both the Liberal Democrat and Labour party candidates.[5]

2004 parlimentary by-elections

A month later, the party stood at the 2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. The EDP candidate received 277 votes, or 1.4% of the votes cast.[6]

On September 30 a byelection was held at Hartlepool. The EDP candidate polled 41 votes or 0.1% of votes cast.[7]

2005 General and county council elections

The party's slogan for the 2005 general election was "English Democrats - Putting England First!" In total, the English Democrats fielded 25 candidates for the May 2005 general election,[8] including Staffordshire South where the election was delayed until June due to the death of a candidate.

Garry Bushell the former Sun journalist and currently the Daily Star Sunday TV critic, became the most high profile candidate for the English Democrats in the 2005 general election, standing in the Greenwich and Woolwich constituency in London.[9] Bushell's 1,216 votes (a 3.4% share for that constituency) beating the UKIP candidate, Stan Gain, who secured 2.0% (709 votes).[10], represented the party's best showing for the election.

A further three English nationalist affiliated candidates also ran in the election. The candidates in May polled an average of 593 votes (1.5%). English Democrats candidates also contested the County Council elections in Cheshire, Cumbria, Essex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey held on the same day. They polled an average of 299 votes (5.6%). None were elected.

In June 2005, Bushell also stood in Staffordshire South, where he received 643 votes (2.5%) coming fifth out of eight candidates.[11]

2005 Crowborough Town Council by-election

In November 2005 the party achieved its first electoral success when Paul Adams was elected to Crowborough Town Council, polling 120 votes, or 56.8% of the poll, on a turnout of 10%.[12]

2006 English local elections

In the May 2006 local elections, 16 English Democrats contested council seats. Across those seats, the average English Democrats poll was 11%,[citation needed] and their best result was in the Finningley ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, finishing second (with 973 votes - 21.2%) out of nine candidates behind the Conservative Party candidate. [13] The EDP candidate in the Penn ward in the Three Rivers elections finished third with 101 votes and 10.3% of the total vote.

2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election

2007 English local elections

In February 2007, the English Democrats contested a by-election in the Bede ward of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. They polled 75 votes, 4.3%, and came fifth out of seven candidates, beating the UKIP and Save the NHS candidates.

In the 2007 local elections, seventy-eight candidates stood for election in boroughs and districts across fifteen English counties, including twenty in Dartford, ten in Portsmouth, six in Calderdale, three in Medway, three in Braintree,and three in Kirklees. All were unsuccessful, however the English Democrats achieved nine second places and an average vote of 13%, which was two percent higher then the previous year. The highest percentage vote was achieved by Michael Tibby who received the equivalent of 35.8%, as a candidate in a single candidate ward, in the Dartford Littlebrook ward. He was 62 votes short of being elected.

Nine candidates also stood for Parish and Town Councils. Five seats were gained in uncontested elections in Sutton-on-the-Forest in North Yorkshire, Thorpe Market in Norfolk,Wallingford in Oxfordshire and Wokingham in Berkshire.

2007 Welsh Assembly elections

In line with the English Democrats stance on the status of Monmouthshire, thirteen English Democrat candidates contested the Welsh Assembly elections in the South East Wales region, and the constituencies of Monmouth (fifth with 2.7%), Newport East (sixth 2.2%) and Newport West (fifth 2.7%).[14] The party received 0.9% of the vote on the regional list.

2007 Parliamentary by-elections

2008 Dartford council by-election

2008 Crewe and Nantwich by-election

2008 London mayoral and Assembly elections

In July 2007 Garry Bushell was nominated as Mayoral candidate for the English Democrats for the 2008 London mayoral and Assembly elections - with the campaign slogan - "Serious About London" [15] In January 2008 Bushell stepped down as the Mayoral Candidate due to work commitments and Fathers 4 Justice founder Matt O'Connor was selected by the English Democrats in his place with his campaign expected to start on 14 February. His campaign web site voteenglish.org was lauched on 31 January 2008. [16][17] The poster campaign subsequently attracted an investigation by the Metropolitan Police under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.[citation needed]

The first Party Political Broadcast for the English Democrats party was broadcast on Friday 11 April 2008 at 6:30pm on ITV 1 (London). It featured Matt O'Connor campaigning for the London Mayoral elections.

On the 23rd of April 2008 the English Democrats released an online viral marketing campaign aimed at gaining support for the Greater London Authority elections on May the 1st. The campaign was launched around the idea of St George defeating Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone as well as members of the Labour cabinet. [18]

One week before the Mayoral election, on 25 April, Matt O'Connor announced to Vanessa Feltz and the BBC that he was dropping out of the Mayoral race. He cited his reasons as being due to a lack of support within the EDP on St George's Day as well as lack of press coverage.[19] The English Democrats released a press statement on their website in response to his resignation voicing disappointment at his decision to quit the contest.[20] O'Connor received 10,695 first preference votes (representing 0.44% of the votes cast) in the mayoral contest, ranking eighth out of 10 candidates, he received 73,538 2nd preference votes 3.67%, again rankining 8th [21]

There were 24 EDP candidates for the London Assembly.[17] None were elected. The party achieved its highest vote in the Havering & Redbridge constituency where Leo Brookes Achieved 6,487 votes (3.94% of votes cast) and its worst in Enfield & Haringey (658 votes or 0.41%).[22]

2008 English local elections

The party fielded candidates in 12 district council elections: the Portsmouth, Carlisle metropolitan boroughs of Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, Kirklees and Leeds; the unitary authorities of North East Lincolnshire and Hull; and the district councils of Rochford and Stevenage. None were elected. The party's best results were where it came second to the Conservatives: in the Finningley ward of Doncaster and in three wards in Rochford.[23]

Councillors

As of May 2008 the English Democrats have six parish or town councillors and one metropolitan borough councillor.

The 2005 victory of Paul Adams at the Crowbrough Town Council by-election remains the party's only success in a contested election. He retained his seat in an uncontested election in May 2007. The party gained five more town or parish council seats were gained in uncontested elections at the same time.

The EDP has never had a councillor elected at the district council level. However, a handful of councillors have defected from other parties. In July 2006, Paul Rogan, a Conservative Party councillor for the Rastrick ward of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council joined the party.[24] He is not due for re-election until 2010. In February 2007, Michael Tibby and Austen Brooker both New England Party councillors in the Kent Borough of Dartford, joined the English Democrats.[25] At the subsequent local elections in May 2007 councillor Tibby lost his seat while Brooker retired and did not contest the election. [26]


Policies

The English Democrats publish a manifesto each year with alterations voted for by their membership at an Autumn Annual General Meeting and occasional Spring EGM.

English Parliament

The party contends that the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales provide a voice to those two constituent nations of the United Kingdom (UK) that England lacks. The party proposes to convene the first exclusively English Parliament since the initial Laws in Wales Act 1535 through one of three methods:

  1. By converting the current House of Commons into a Devolved English parliament within the asymmetrical devolution framework currently existing in the United Kingdom,
  2. By creating a new legislature with equal status to the Scottish Parliament and a more powerful Welsh Parliament within a re-constituted federal or confederal United Kingdom,
  3. As an independent, sovereign legislature for the re-founded state of England, upon dissolution of the Union - most likely to be created by independence for Scotland and Wales.

The party has rejected suggestions that non-English MPs in the House of Commons should be barred from voting on England-specific matters, on the basis that this would lead to their being, in effect, two parliaments in the same building and that this would be problematic.[27]

European Union

The party favours deciding the UK's future relationship with the European Union by a nationwide, multiple choice, referendum, which would include the option to withdraw from it entirely. The party is against the establishment of regional assemblies in the Regions of England. The parties favoured option is re-negotiation of the terms and conditions of the UK's membership, while retaining withdrawal as a last resort if this fails. In this instance the English Democrats policy is to maintain free trade arrangements by rejoining the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Traditional counties

The party is supportive of historic counties and has called for a referendum on whether Monmouthshire should be part of England as opposed to Wales:

"The English Democrats Party consider that the position of Monmouthshire in Wales is anomalous, as historically it had mostly been part of England until recent boundary re-organisation. Accordingly, we would wish to see a county referendum in Monmouthshire as to whether the people of Monmouthshire would wish to be treated as being part of Wales or part of England." [28]

House of Lords

In April 2006, the English Democrats became members of the Elect the Lords Campaign, whether the English Parliament is within a Federal UK or simply as a Devolved Parliament within the current UK structure.

Immigration

The party's manifesto states that "we need to change immigration policy so that it better reflects the needs and wishes of the English people". A points system for entry to the UK, based on the Canadian and Australian models, is advocated. The party's manifesto also suggests that the country should withdraw from international conventions on asylum and immigration.

Nationalist connections

The English Democrats shared a platform in January 2007 with the Scottish National Party (SNP) on the BBC Newsnight programme in a "Act of Disunion" debate[29] and on 1 May, 2007 on the Internet television station 18 Doughty Street on the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Acts of Union in 1707.[30]

Opinion polls - English Parliament

  • In an ICM poll for The Sunday Telegraph on 26 November 2006 68% of the (potential) English voters, who were polled, were in favour of an English Parliament.[31]
  • In a joint BBC and Opinion Research Business (ORB) poll in January 2007 for the BBC's Newsnight programme, 61% of those in England thought that an English Parliament should be established.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Devolution for England - The way forward". English Constitution Convention. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  2. ^ Hyde, Marina (2004-12-14). "Diary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  3. ^ "English Democrats Party Statement of Accounts" (PDF). Electoral Commission. 2005-12-31. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  4. ^ "Labour victory in Ipswich by-election". BBC News. 2001-11-23. Retrieved 2007-05-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Basildon District Coucil election results" (PDF). Basildon District Council. 2004-06-10. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  6. ^ "Lib Dems snatch Labour seat". BBC News. 2004-07-16. Retrieved 2008-05-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Labour narrowly wins Hartlepool". BBC News. 2004-10-01. Retrieved 2008-05-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Kimber, Richard (2007-02-02). "UK General Election candidates 2005: Number of candidates by party". Political Science Resources, Keele University. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Kimber, Richard (2007-02-02). "UK General Election candidates 2005 - English Democrats". Political Science Resources, Keele University. Retrieved 2007-08-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Greenwich and Woolwich". The Guardian. 2005. Retrieved 2007-08-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Result: Staffordshire South". BBC News. 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2007-08-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Blanshard, Heather (2005-11-25). "St.Johns Ward - Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Crowborough Town Council. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  13. ^ "Local Elections 2006". Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  14. ^ "Welsh assembly election 2007". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  15. ^ "Gary Bushell Serious about London". English Democrats Party. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  16. ^ "Fathers 4 Justice founder to enter Mayoral race". London Evening Standard. 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2008-01-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b "London Elects: The Candidates". londonelects.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  18. ^ "St George's Day viral marketing campaign". English Democrats. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  19. ^ "Matt O'Connor quits Mayoral contest". BBC News. 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  20. ^ "Matt O'Connor's shock resignation press release". English Democrats. 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  21. ^ "London mayoral election 2008". BBC. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  22. ^ "London assembly election 2008". BBC. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  23. ^ English Democrats (2008-05-02). "English Democrats Election Results". Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  24. ^ "Paul Rogan, English Democrat Councillor - official profile". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  25. ^ Rogan, Paul (2007-02-24). "2 more Cllrs join EDP". English Democrats Party. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  26. ^ "Ward results". Dartford Borough Council. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  27. ^ "No English parliament - Falconer". BBC News. 2006-03-10. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  28. ^ "Manifesto of the English Democrats" (PDF). BBC News. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  29. ^ a b "Newsnight poll suggests support for English parliament – but no strong desire for independence among nations" (Press release). BBC News. 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  30. ^ Dale, Iain (2007-05-01). "Voxpolitics" (Internet television). 18 Doughty Street. Retrieved 2008-03-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Hennessey, Patrick (2006-11-27). "Britain wants UK break up, poll shows". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-08-08. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=English_Democrats&oldid=214490611"