United Democratic Party (UK)

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The United Democratic Party (UDP) was a minor political party in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1974 by a group of Independent Conservatives disaffected with Edward Heath's leadership of the Conservative Party

A political party is an organized group of people who have the same ideology, or who otherwise have the same political positions, and who field candidates for elections, in an attempt to get them elected and thereby implement the party's agenda.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. The UK's 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi) were home to an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Independent Conservative is a description which has been used in the United Kingdom, Canada, and elsewhere, to denote a political Conservative who lacks a formal affiliation to the party of that name.

During the February 1974 general election a number of unofficial and independent Tories had stood against the official party candidates. [1] A number of these joined together after the election when it became clear that a second vote would be needed, forming the UDP as a right-wing alternative. [1] The new party did not have an overall policy although it was generally to right of the Conservative Party and for some candidates, although not invariably, stressed opposition to the European Economic Community. [2]

February 1974 United Kingdom general election general election

The February 1974 United Kingdom general election was held on the 28th day of that month. The Labour Party led by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson made moderate gains, but was short of an overall majority. The Conservative Party led by incumbent Edward Heath lost 37 seats, but achieved a slightly higher share of the vote than Labour. This resulted in a hung parliament; Heath resigned when he found himself unable to form a coalition, and Wilson became Prime Minister for a second time. Labour won 301 seats, 17 short of a majority.

European Economic Community international organisation created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957

The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation which aimed to bring about economic integration among its member states. It was created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957. Upon the formation of the European Union (EU) in 1993, the EEC was incorporated and renamed as the European Community (EC). In 2009 the EC's institutions were absorbed into the EU's wider framework and the community ceased to exist.

Boosted by some new members joining from the fading Independent Democratic Alliance, the UDP contested 13 seats in the October general election. [2] Led by James Tippett, the party's candidates were all based in the south of England and all failed to gain election. [2] The party's best result was in Cambridge where they won 885 votes (1.7% share), [1] a result influenced the candidate C.J. Curry being a well-known local business figure. [2]

October 1974 United Kingdom general election

The October 1974 United Kingdom general election took place on Thursday 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members of the British House of Commons. It was the second general election held that year, and the first year that two general elections were held in a single year since 1910, 64 years earlier. The election resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson winning a narrow majority of just 3 seats.

Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Cambridge is a parliamentary constituency created in 1295 represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

The party disbanded soon after the general election with a single member continuing as a regular by-election candidate, albeit under the Independent banner. [2] A "United Democratic Party" candidate in the 1983 Bermondsey by-election had no connection to the earlier group.

1983 Bermondsey by-election

A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Bob Mellish. Peter Tatchell stood as the candidate for the Labour Party, and Simon Hughes stood for the Liberal Party. Following a bitter campaign, the Liberals made huge gains and took the seat, with a majority of votes cast. Labour's vote fell from 63.6 per cent in May 1979 to 26.1 per cent as Tatchell came a distant second, while the Conservative candidate, Robert Hughes, managed only fourth place. With a swing of 44.2%, the 1983 Bermondsey by-election remains the largest by-election swing in British political history.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 David Boothroyd, The History of British Political Parties, Politico's Publishing, 2001, p. 325
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Boothroyd, p. 326


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