Saint Helena Labour Party | |
---|---|
General Secretary | G. A. D. Thornton |
Founded | 1974 |
Dissolved | c. 1976 |
Headquarters | P.O. Box 34, Jamestown, Saint Helena |
Ideology |
Right-wing libertarianism Neoliberalism |
Political position | Right-wing |
Legislative Council of Saint Helena (1976) | 0 / 12
|
[1] [2] |
The Saint Helena Labour Party was a political party on the island of Saint Helena (a British crown colony). [2] The party was founded in 1974. [1] Despite having a similar name to that of many left-wing parties across the world, the party advocated private enterprise as opposed to dependence on British economic aid and a supposedly government-dominated economy. [1] It supported closer links with South Africa. [3]
The founding of the party had been preceded by a controversy regarding the purchase of the Solomon & Co. enterprise (a local trading company) by the South African concern South Atlantic Trade and Investment Company (SATIC). [4] The British government had taken over the SATIC operations in Saint Helena, fearing South African dominance over the local economy. [5] The founder of the party was G. A. D. 'Tony' Thornton, a businessman of dual South African and British nationality. [1] [5] [6] Thornton served as the general secretary of the party. [7] The Saint Helena Labour Party was the first opposition party on the island. [8]
In November 1975 the party published a document, authored by Thornton, titled 'The St. Helena Manifesto'. The 34-page document criticised the policies of British authorities and accused the government of Saint Helena of neglecting the interests of the island. [9] [10] The manifesto charged that the 1974–1979 development plan was a blueprint for underdevelopment and depopulation of the island. [11] The party argued against public health care and education, and called for developing local industries and exports. [2] Thornton's positions were met with criticism from the Saint Helena government, discarding the economic policies of the Saint Helena Labour Party as unrealistic. [5]
In December 1975 the British governor Sir Thomas Oates decided to deport Thornton from Saint Helena. The expulsion caused an uproar amongst the inhabitants of the island. [8] The political life of Saint Helena was divided into pro- and anti-Thornton camps, with demonstrations, petitions, public meetings and court cases. [9]
After his expulsion, Thornton continued to try to rally support for the Saint Helena Labour Party. [9] The party contested the 1976 election to the Legislative Council of Saint Helena, but failed to win any seats. [1] The party appears to have become defunct in the same year, at a similar point in time as its pro-British adversary the Saint Helena Progressive Party. [7]
Saint Helena Labour Party | |
---|---|
General Secretary | G. A. D. Thornton |
Founded | 1974 |
Dissolved | c. 1976 |
Headquarters | P.O. Box 34, Jamestown, Saint Helena |
Ideology |
Right-wing libertarianism Neoliberalism |
Political position | Right-wing |
Legislative Council of Saint Helena (1976) | 0 / 12
|
[1] [2] |
The Saint Helena Labour Party was a political party on the island of Saint Helena (a British crown colony). [2] The party was founded in 1974. [1] Despite having a similar name to that of many left-wing parties across the world, the party advocated private enterprise as opposed to dependence on British economic aid and a supposedly government-dominated economy. [1] It supported closer links with South Africa. [3]
The founding of the party had been preceded by a controversy regarding the purchase of the Solomon & Co. enterprise (a local trading company) by the South African concern South Atlantic Trade and Investment Company (SATIC). [4] The British government had taken over the SATIC operations in Saint Helena, fearing South African dominance over the local economy. [5] The founder of the party was G. A. D. 'Tony' Thornton, a businessman of dual South African and British nationality. [1] [5] [6] Thornton served as the general secretary of the party. [7] The Saint Helena Labour Party was the first opposition party on the island. [8]
In November 1975 the party published a document, authored by Thornton, titled 'The St. Helena Manifesto'. The 34-page document criticised the policies of British authorities and accused the government of Saint Helena of neglecting the interests of the island. [9] [10] The manifesto charged that the 1974–1979 development plan was a blueprint for underdevelopment and depopulation of the island. [11] The party argued against public health care and education, and called for developing local industries and exports. [2] Thornton's positions were met with criticism from the Saint Helena government, discarding the economic policies of the Saint Helena Labour Party as unrealistic. [5]
In December 1975 the British governor Sir Thomas Oates decided to deport Thornton from Saint Helena. The expulsion caused an uproar amongst the inhabitants of the island. [8] The political life of Saint Helena was divided into pro- and anti-Thornton camps, with demonstrations, petitions, public meetings and court cases. [9]
After his expulsion, Thornton continued to try to rally support for the Saint Helena Labour Party. [9] The party contested the 1976 election to the Legislative Council of Saint Helena, but failed to win any seats. [1] The party appears to have become defunct in the same year, at a similar point in time as its pro-British adversary the Saint Helena Progressive Party. [7]