Ralph Thorne | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| Assumed office 12 February 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
| Preceded by | Joseph Atherley (2022) |
| Leader of the Democratic Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 19 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ronnie Yearwood |
| Member of the House of Assembly of Barbados for Christ Church South | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
| Preceded by | John D. E. Boyce |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic Labour |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (until February 2024) |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Cornelius |
| Children | 3 |
Ralph Thorne KC,MP [1] is a Barbadian lawyer and politician who is the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of Barbados as a member of the Democratic Labour Party. He has served the House of Assembly for Christ Church South since 2018.
Ralph Thorne attended Grace Hill Primary School. [2]
Throne was a Queen's Counsel and was the lead defence attorney for Michael Misick in his corruption trial. He operates his own law firm. [3] Neil Rowe,a member of the Parliament of Barbados who was accused of rape,was defended by Thorne [4] and found not guilty in 2025. [5]
Thorne was initially a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and ran for parliament with their nomination twice,but left to join the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). [6] [7] In the 2018 election,in which the BLP won every seat,Thorne was elected to the House of Assembly of Barbados for Christ Church South as a member of the BLP. [3]
The BLP won every seat again in the 2022 election. Thorne crossed the floor and became leader of the opposition. [8] He rejoined the DLP and was selected to be its leader. [9] Thorne appointed Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson,both members of the DLP,to the seats reserved for the opposition in the Senate of Barbados before he rejoined the DLP himself. [7] [10]
During Thorne's tenure in parliament he chaired the Thorne Commission on Local Government which was charged with establishing People’s Assemblies,a form of local government. [11]
Thorne married Jacqueline Cornelius,with whom he had three children. Jacqueline is a High Court judge. [3]