Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
Encyclopedia
The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) is a political party
in Bermuda
. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.
. Intended to appeal to the working-class, the first election platform called for equitable taxation, an end to racial discrimination, economic parity and welfare programs, as well as housing, educational and electoral reform.
The Progressive Labour Party contested its first General Election just three months after its formation in 1963. The Party contested nine of the then thirty-six Parliamentary seats. The PLP's first successful Members of Colonial Parliament (MCPs) were: Mr. Arnold A. Francis (Party Leader), Mr. Walter N. H. Robinson (Deputy Leader), Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans
(Bermuda's first black elected woman Member of Parliament) Mr. Russell Dismont
, Mr. Cecil Clarke and Mrs. Dorothy Thompson.
Shortly after the PLP's formation, the constitution of Bermuda was altered to focus on party politics, and a General Election was called on 22 May 1968. In the election, the party was soundly defeated by the newly formed, conservative, United Bermuda Party
. During the election, the party's leader, Walter Robinson, was defeated in his constituency and power was handed over to Lois Browne-Evans
. Shortly after that defeat, a group splintered from the party to form the short-lived Bermuda Democratic Party (BDP).
In subsequent elections, the PLP slowly expanded its share of Parliament until 1983, where it began a noticeable slide. This was reversed several elections later in 1989.
, which had controlled the country since autonomy was gained in 1968, suffered an unprecedented defeat. The Progressive Labour Party again won the parliamentary election held on 24 July 2003 with 51.6 % of the vote and 22 out of 36 seats, but less than a week later Ewart Brown
led a party coup, and Smith was forced to resign. The two factions agreed to a compromise candidate, Alex Scott
, to become Premier of Bermuda, while Brown would hold the deputy premiership. In October 2006, Dr. Ewart Brown defeated Alex Scott in an election for Party Leader and became the PLP's Leader and Premier of Bermuda.
The PLP won a third term in power in the election held on 18 December 2007, again taking 22 seats.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.
Formation
The first political party in Bermuda, and the oldest still active, the PLP was founded in 1963 by Wilfred Mose Allen, Hugh Ryo Richardson, Albert Peter Smith, Edward DeJean, Walter N.H. Robinson, Austin Wilson and Dilton C. Cann. These seven had earlier met in Richardson's garage, before holding the first formal meeting of the PLP on 10 February 1963 in Robinson's office in HamiltonHamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
. Intended to appeal to the working-class, the first election platform called for equitable taxation, an end to racial discrimination, economic parity and welfare programs, as well as housing, educational and electoral reform.
The Progressive Labour Party contested its first General Election just three months after its formation in 1963. The Party contested nine of the then thirty-six Parliamentary seats. The PLP's first successful Members of Colonial Parliament (MCPs) were: Mr. Arnold A. Francis (Party Leader), Mr. Walter N. H. Robinson (Deputy Leader), Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans
Lois Browne-Evans
Dame Lois Marie Browne-Evans, DBE, JP was a lawyer and political figure in Bermuda. She led the Progressive Labour Party in opposition before being appointed Bermuda's first female Attorney-General. She first gained recognition in 1953 as the Bermuda's first female barrister...
(Bermuda's first black elected woman Member of Parliament) Mr. Russell Dismont
Russell Dismont
Russell Dismont was from a respected black Bermudian family of the time. Despite racial discrimination typical of that period, his father Albert Hilgrove Dismont had become a successful business man and was the first black man to own a property and business in the totally white owned city of...
, Mr. Cecil Clarke and Mrs. Dorothy Thompson.
Shortly after the PLP's formation, the constitution of Bermuda was altered to focus on party politics, and a General Election was called on 22 May 1968. In the election, the party was soundly defeated by the newly formed, conservative, United Bermuda Party
United Bermuda Party
The United Bermuda Party was a political party in Bermuda. It represented itself as centrist party in favor of a moderate social and fiscal agenda...
. During the election, the party's leader, Walter Robinson, was defeated in his constituency and power was handed over to Lois Browne-Evans
Lois Browne-Evans
Dame Lois Marie Browne-Evans, DBE, JP was a lawyer and political figure in Bermuda. She led the Progressive Labour Party in opposition before being appointed Bermuda's first female Attorney-General. She first gained recognition in 1953 as the Bermuda's first female barrister...
. Shortly after that defeat, a group splintered from the party to form the short-lived Bermuda Democratic Party (BDP).
In subsequent elections, the PLP slowly expanded its share of Parliament until 1983, where it began a noticeable slide. This was reversed several elections later in 1989.
Recent history
In 1996 Jennifer Meredith Smith succeeded to the leadership of the PLP upon the death of L. Frederick Wade. She led her party to its first victory in parliamentary elections in November 1998, in which the traditionally conservative United Bermuda PartyUnited Bermuda Party
The United Bermuda Party was a political party in Bermuda. It represented itself as centrist party in favor of a moderate social and fiscal agenda...
, which had controlled the country since autonomy was gained in 1968, suffered an unprecedented defeat. The Progressive Labour Party again won the parliamentary election held on 24 July 2003 with 51.6 % of the vote and 22 out of 36 seats, but less than a week later Ewart Brown
Ewart Brown
Ewart Frederick Brown, Jr. was Premier of Bermuda and leader of the Progressive Labour Party from 2006 and 2010. He served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Warwick South Central for 17 years until his retirement from politics in October 2010.Brown was elected leader of the ruling...
led a party coup, and Smith was forced to resign. The two factions agreed to a compromise candidate, Alex Scott
William Alexander Scott
William Alexander "Alex" Scott JP, MP is a politician in Bermuda who is the MP for the Warwick South East constituency. Between 2003 and 2006 he served as the Premier of Bermuda and leader of the Progressive Labour Party ....
, to become Premier of Bermuda, while Brown would hold the deputy premiership. In October 2006, Dr. Ewart Brown defeated Alex Scott in an election for Party Leader and became the PLP's Leader and Premier of Bermuda.
The PLP won a third term in power in the election held on 18 December 2007, again taking 22 seats.