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Libertarian Party
Party Chairman Guy Montrose[1]
Founded 2008
Headquarters Gemini House, 136–140 Old Shoreham Road, BN3 7BD Brighton,
Ideology Libertarianism,
Minarchism,
Classical liberalism,
Euroscepticism
International affiliation Interlibertarians
European affiliation None
European Parliament group None
Colours Blue and Yellow
House of Lords Template:Infobox political party/seats
European Parliament Template:Infobox political party/seats
Local government Template:Infobox political party/seats
Website
http://www.libertarianpartyuk.com

{Libertarianism sidebar}} The Libertarian Party, also known as the Libertarian Party UK (or LPUK), is a libertarian political party in the United Kingdom, which describes itself as "largely minarchist in scope".

History[]

The party was founded on 1 January 2008 under the leadership of Patrick Vessey who registered with the Electoral Commission on 21 November 2007. Annual accounts held by the Electoral Commission, show that the party had 314 members at the end of 2008, and a net annual income of £3,395. By December 2009 the party had 500 members.[2]Template:Dead link

A leader in the Daily Telegraph, blamed the founding of the party on "poor advice from friends" predicting it would allow "the crazier aspects of libertarian thinking to come to the fore" whilst achieving nothing.[3]

On 17 September 2008 Vessey resigned as party leader and was replaced by Ian Parker-Joseph. Interviewed ahead of the 2010 elections, Parker-Joseph, an IT consultant claimed many policies which interfered with personal liberty were initiated by IT companies who invited ministers to their conferences.[4] The party claimed a membership of 1000 and hoped, in the wake of the MP expenses scandal "to establish themselves in the media landscape with a couple of robust performances".[4] He said the party wanted much smaller government and would initially cut taxation to 10% before removing it altogether.[4] They could remove many layers of buraucracy from the NHS to make it as efficient as private industry.[4]

In the United Kingdom local elections, 2009 Andrew Hunt came bottom in Cambridgeshire, Wisbech South with 140 votes,[5] whilst in the United Kingdom local elections, 2010 Stuart Heal came bottom in Manchester City Council, Miles Platting and Newton Heath ward[6]

The party participated in the United Kingdom general election, 2010. Nic Coome stood in Devizes, coming last with 141 votes (0.3%), while Martin Cullip stood in Sutton and Cheam, coming last but one with 41 votes.[7][8][9][10][11] On 28 November 2010 Andrew Withers was elected as party leader. Withers was elected as an independent Parish councillor for Clevedon Walton ward, North Somerset region in the May 2011 elections.[12] resigning on or around March 2012. [13]

Political views[]

The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets and strong civil liberties. The party's first policy is the lowering income tax and a reduction of "red tape" on businesses. Their social policies include minimum restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, the decentralization of the education system, and the introduction of a school voucher system. The party favours a withdrawal from the European Union and reform of membership of the United Nations for a non-interventionist foreign policy. On healthcare, the party believes in the decentralization of the National Health Service and the "migration from State monopoly to an insurance-based system" but remain strongly committed to the long term care of the elderly and mental health services.

See also[]

References[]

  1. Libertarian Party Statutory officers
  2. 10/19/2009 FOI 8409, current constitutions for any party started in the last two years November 26, 2009 archived http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk
  3. Alex Singleton (30 May2008). "How Libertarians undermine liberty". Daily Telegraph. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/alexsingleton/4341751/How_Libertarians_undermine_liberty/. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Interview: The Libertarian party". Politics.co.uk. 1 June 2009. http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2009/6/1/interview-the-libertarian-party. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  5. "Cambridgeshire County Council Election Results 2009". http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/results/cambs09full.htm}. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  6. "Elections:Election Results for Miles Platting and Newton Heath Ward". Manchester.gov.uk. 6 May 2010. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/custom_scripts/viewelection.php?pollid=57. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  7. 2010 UK general election – Parties and Third Parties, Political parties and third parties campaign expenditure at the 2010 UK Parliamentary general election August 25, 2010 archieved http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk
  8. http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/results/general_elections/uk-general-election-2010/devizes UK general election 2010 Results for Devizes, http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk
  9. 2010 UKPGE Campaign expenditure report Report on campaign spending at the 2010 UK Parliamentary general election archived February 24, 2011, http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk
  10. "Election 2010: Constituency: Sutton & Cheam". BBC. May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/e59.stm.
  11. "Election 2010: Constituency: Devizes". BBC. May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b37.stm.
  12. Samantha Pope (6 April 2011). "parish and town candidates announced". Nailsea,Clevedon & Portishead Times. http://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/elections_parish_and_town_candidates_announced_1_856698?ot=archant.PrintFriendlyPageLayout.ot. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  13. Paula Heath -Clerk to Clevedon parish council (3 April 2012). "Notice of vacancy in office of councillor Parish of Clevedon Walton ward". http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/96A52341-934B-4663-A86B-E83B5777C17A/0/NoticeofVacancyClevedonWalton.pdf. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

External links[]

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