- Democratic Party (UK, 1969)
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For other parties of the same name, see Democratic Party (UK).
The Democratic Party, initially known as Our Party, was formed in May 1969 by Desmond Donnelly, who had been a Labour MP, but had resigned the whip in January 1968 and been expelled by the party two months later. His Constituency Labour Party supported him, and they were disaffiliated from the party along with Donnelly's expulsion.
The party had an anti-socialist agenda and supported UK intervention in the Vietnam War. In some respects the party's policies were to the right of the Conservatives, advocating the abolition of the welfare state, sweeping changes to the taxation system, and the return of national service. They fought two by-elections and five seats in the 1970 general election, although only Donnelly polled a significant number of votes.
The party wound up in April 1971 when the leader Desmond Donnelly joined the Conservative Party, without even informing the Democratic Party membership.
Categories:- Defunct political parties in the United Kingdom
- Political parties established in 1969
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