Bermudian general election, 1985

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General elections were held in Bermuda in October 1985. [1] The result was a victory for the United Bermuda Party, which won 31 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly.

Bermuda British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately 1,070 km (665 mi) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; 1,236 km (768 mi) south of Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia; and 1,759 km (1,093 mi) northeast of Cuba. The capital city is Hamilton. Bermuda is self-governing, with its own constitution and its own government, which enacts local laws, while the United Kingdom retains responsibility for defence and foreign relations. As of July 2018, its population is 71,176, the highest of the British overseas territories.

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) was a political party in Bermuda, which represented itself as centrist party with a moderate social and fiscal agenda. The party held power in Bermuda's House of Assembly continuously from 1968 to 1998, the 47-year-old party was wound up on 30 June 2011 after the majority of its members joined the One Bermuda Alliance.

House of Assembly of Bermuda

The House of Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. The house has 36 Members of Parliament (MPs), elected for a term of five years in single seat constituencies using first-past-the-post voting. Bermuda now has universal voting with a voting age of 18 years. Voting is non-compulsory. The presiding officer of the House is called the Speaker.

A total of 98 candidates contested the election, although one seat, Southampton West, was uncontested and the two United Bermuda Party candidate returned unopposed. [1]

Southampton Parish, Bermuda parish of Bermuda

Southampton Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It is named for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (1573-1624).

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
United Bermuda Party 22,36862.5031+5
Progressive Labour Party 10,93030.547–7
National Liberal Party 2,4866.952New
Independents50.010New
Total35,789100400
Registered voters/turnout29,340
Source: Parliamentary Registry

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References

  1. 1 2 October 1985 Parliamentary Registry