United Progressive Party (Antigua and Barbuda)
Encyclopedia
The United Progressive Party is a political party
in Antigua and Barbuda. It is led by Baldwin Spencer
, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and has the majority of seats in the Antiguan House of Representatives.
, the Progressive Labour Movement
and the United National Democratic Party
. Each party was in opposition to the Antigua Labour Party
government. Baldwin Spencer was chosen to lead the new party.
, the party won 43.7 per cent of the vote and five seats in the House of Representatives
. It became the largest opposition party. The UPP lost one seat to the Antigua Labour Party at the 1999 general election, despite increasing its vote to 44.5 per cent, after which it claimed fraud.
On 24 March 2004, at the general election of that year, the UPP won government with 55.3 per cent of the popular vote and 12 out of 17 seats. Baldwin Spencer became the first Prime Minister from outside the Antigua Labour Party in its history as an independent state. The Antigua Labour Party won 4 seats and 41.8 per cent of the vote, while the remaining seat was won by Trevor Walker of the UPP-aligned Barbuda People's Movement
at a by-election to break a tied vote in Barbuda
at the general election.
The UPP campaigned in 2004 under the slogan "Government in the Sunshine" on an anti-corruption platform. Since the election, the UPP have pursued their anti-corruption aims by passing a trio of government legislation: the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Integrity in Public Life Act.
Though the UPP won the 2009 general election
with 51.1 per cent of the vote nine seats against eight for other parties, a judge nullified three elections to individual seats won by the UPP, including the Prime Minister's seat, due to a breach of electoral law. This judgement was subsequently overruled by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
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 Antigua and Barbuda. It is led by Baldwin Spencer
Baldwin Spencer
Winston Baldwin Spencer is the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. He has been Prime Minister since March 24, 2004, when his party, the United Progressive Party , which he had led as the opposition party for several years, won a parliamentary election...
, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and has the majority of seats in the Antiguan House of Representatives.
Foundation
The United Progressive Party was formed in 1992 through a merger of three parties, namely the Antigua Caribbean Liberation MovementAntigua Caribbean Liberation Movement
Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement, a radical socialist and Pan-African political party in Antigua and Barbuda. ACLM was founded in 1968 by Tim Hector, the then chairman of the Progressive Labour Movement. The ideological inspiration for ACLM came from C.L.R...
, the Progressive Labour Movement
Progressive Labour Movement
The Progressive Labour Movement was a major political party in Antigua and Barbuda, and until the 2000s, was the only political party to have defeated the Antigua Labour Party in an election.-History:...
and the United National Democratic Party
United National Democratic Party
The United National Democratic Party was a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It contested the 1989 general elections, winning 31% of the vote but only one seat. In 1992 it was one of three opposition parties to merge into the United Progressive Party....
. Each party was in opposition to the Antigua Labour Party
Antigua Labour Party
The Antigua Labour Party is the former ruling political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It has long been led by Lester Bird, who was chairman of the party since 1971, and became Prime Minister and political leader in 1994. The party was founded by Lester's father, V.C. Bird...
government. Baldwin Spencer was chosen to lead the new party.
Electoral performance
At the 1994 general electionAntigua and Barbuda general election, 1994
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 8 March 1994. They were won by the governing Antigua Labour Party, under the leadership of Lester Bird. Bird had been appointed leader of the ALP before the election, after his father and predecessor Vere Bird announced his intention to retire....
, the party won 43.7 per cent of the vote and five seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda
The House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral parliament.The current House of Representatives, formed following elections held on 12 March 2009, has a total of 19 members. 17 members are directly elected to five year terms from single member...
. It became the largest opposition party. The UPP lost one seat to the Antigua Labour Party at the 1999 general election, despite increasing its vote to 44.5 per cent, after which it claimed fraud.
On 24 March 2004, at the general election of that year, the UPP won government with 55.3 per cent of the popular vote and 12 out of 17 seats. Baldwin Spencer became the first Prime Minister from outside the Antigua Labour Party in its history as an independent state. The Antigua Labour Party won 4 seats and 41.8 per cent of the vote, while the remaining seat was won by Trevor Walker of the UPP-aligned Barbuda People's Movement
Barbuda People's Movement
The Barbuda People's Movement is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda allied with the ruling United Progressive Party.-History:The party first contested a general election in 1989, in which they won a single seat. They held the seat in the 1994 and 1999. In the 2004 elections the candidates of...
at a by-election to break a tied vote in Barbuda
Barbuda
Barbuda is an island in the Eastern Caribbean, and forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It has a population of about 1,500, most of whom live in the town of Codrington.-Location:...
at the general election.
The UPP campaigned in 2004 under the slogan "Government in the Sunshine" on an anti-corruption platform. Since the election, the UPP have pursued their anti-corruption aims by passing a trio of government legislation: the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Integrity in Public Life Act.
Though the UPP won the 2009 general election
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 2009
The Antigua and Barbuda general election of 2009 was held on 12 March 2009. The United Progressive Party government was re-elected with a reduced majority...
with 51.1 per cent of the vote nine seats against eight for other parties, a judge nullified three elections to individual seats won by the UPP, including the Prime Minister's seat, due to a breach of electoral law. This judgement was subsequently overruled by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.