Senior Citizens Party
Encyclopedia
The Senior Citizens Party is a political party
in the United Kingdom
, which focuses on the rights of people over the age of 50. They claim a membership of several thousand people.
The party was founded in January 2004 by Grahame Leon-Smith, now the party leader, and Terry Pattinson. They claim that they had previously been lifelong Conservative
and Labour Party
voters respectively, Leon-Smith serving as a councillor for 6 years, but had become disillusioned by the breaking of the link between pensions and average earnings
by the Conservatives and Labour's failure to restore it. They also campaign against council tax
, proposing a local income tax
, and campaign for free personal care for the elderly, free off-peak travel, and free television licenses.
The party won 42,861 votes in the South East
in the European Parliament election, 2004 and stood candidates against Tony Blair
and Michael Howard
in the 2005 UK general election
. Leon-Smith received 151 votes (0.3%) in Folkestone and Hythe, and Pattinson received 97 votes (0.2%) in Sedgefield
. In the run up to the 2005 General Election the Senior Citizens Party had meetings discussing an electoral alliance
with the English Democrats. In May 2006, Leon-Smith and Pattinson stood for the party in the Runnymede Borough Council election
, receiving 261 votes between them.
According to their Electoral Commission registration, the leader, nominating officer and treasurer is Leon-Smith, whilst Pattinston is Campaigns Officers. Their accounts filed for the years 2004 and 2007 indicate that they had "approximately 4,000 members and associate members". The annual membership fee is £12, but associate members do not pay anything. The ratio of full to associate members is not specified.
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 the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, which focuses on the rights of people over the age of 50. They claim a membership of several thousand people.
The party was founded in January 2004 by Grahame Leon-Smith, now the party leader, and Terry Pattinson. They claim that they had previously been lifelong Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
voters respectively, Leon-Smith serving as a councillor for 6 years, but had become disillusioned by the breaking of the link between pensions and average earnings
Income in the United Kingdom
In terms of global poverty criteria, the United Kingdom is a wealthy country, with virtually no people living on less than £4 a day. There is both significant income redistribution and income inequality. Thus in 2008/09 income in the top and bottom fifth of households was £73,800 and £5,000...
by the Conservatives and Labour's failure to restore it. They also campaign against council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
, proposing a local income tax
Local income tax
The Scottish Government planned to bring forward legislation to replace the council tax with a local income tax , as part of the funding for Scottish local authorities....
, and campaign for free personal care for the elderly, free off-peak travel, and free television licenses.
The party won 42,861 votes in the South East
South East England (European Parliament constituency)
South East England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 Members of the European Parliament using the D'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
in the European Parliament election, 2004 and stood candidates against Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Michael Howard
Michael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
in the 2005 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. Leon-Smith received 151 votes (0.3%) in Folkestone and Hythe, and Pattinson received 97 votes (0.2%) in Sedgefield
Sedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)
Sedgefield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. In the run up to the 2005 General Election the Senior Citizens Party had meetings discussing an electoral alliance
Electoral alliance
An electoral alliance may take the form of a bipartisan electoral agreement, electoral agreement, electoral coalition or electoral bloc. It is an association of political parties or individuals which exists solely to stand in elections...
with the English Democrats. In May 2006, Leon-Smith and Pattinson stood for the party in the Runnymede Borough Council election
Runnymede Council election, 2006
Elections to Runnymede Council were held on 4 May 2006. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.After the election, the composition of the council was*Conservative 36...
, receiving 261 votes between them.
According to their Electoral Commission registration, the leader, nominating officer and treasurer is Leon-Smith, whilst Pattinston is Campaigns Officers. Their accounts filed for the years 2004 and 2007 indicate that they had "approximately 4,000 members and associate members". The annual membership fee is £12, but associate members do not pay anything. The ratio of full to associate members is not specified.
External links
- Grey panthers. Interview with Leon-Smith on BBC BreakfastBBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
in July 2004 (Real Audio Media).