Radical Party (New Zealand)

Radical Party (New Zealand)

The Radical Party was a proposed new political party in New Zealand. It was part of an abortive attempt by members of the Liberal Party to establish a breakaway group. No actual party was ever formed, but the name was frequently applied to the group of dissident MPs by the press.

The leaders of the Radical Party proposal were George Russell and Frederick Pirani, both Liberal Party MPs. Russell and Pirani, along with other MPs such as William Collins and George Smith, were dissatisfied with the Liberal Party under Richard Seddon, believing that it had lost its commitment to its founding ideals. Both were considered to belong to the Liberal Party's left wing. In 1896, Russell spoke openly about formalising "the advanced section of the Liberal Party", either as an organised faction in the Liberal caucus or as a separate party.

However, the new group failed to emerge. Tensions appeared to rise between its various members, with rumours circulating that neither Russell nor Pirani would concede the leadership to the other. The MPs whose names had been mentioned in connection with the Radical Party distanced themselves from it, stating that they had never made any commitments. Pirani and Smith both left the Liberal Party the same year, becoming independents.

In 1905 a similar group, the New Liberal Party was formed, but this group was defunct by 1908.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • New Democratic Party (New Zealand) — The New Democratic Party of New Zealand was a small political party established in 1972. It was a splinter group from the better known Social Credit Party, having been founded by former Social Credit leader John O Brien. O Brien was considered a… …   Wikipedia

  • United Party (New Zealand) — This article discusses the party which originated in 1927 from a faction of the Liberal Party. United New Zealand, a political party founded in 1995 is unrelated. The United Party of New Zealand, a party formed out of the remnants of the Liberal… …   Wikipedia

  • Country Party (New Zealand) — The Country Party of New Zealand was a political party which based itself around rural voters. It was represented in Parliament from 1928 to 1938. Its policies were a mixture of rural advocacy and social credit theory. The Country Party had its… …   Wikipedia

  • NewLabour Party (New Zealand) — NewLabour Party Leader Jim Anderton (1989 2000) Founded 1989 Dissolved 2000 …   Wikipedia

  • New Liberal Party (New Zealand) — The New Liberal Party of New Zealand was a splinter group of the original Liberal Party. It was formed at a meeting in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui in June 1905[1][2] by two Liberal aligned independents who sought a more progressive policy… …   Wikipedia

  • Christian Democrat Party (New Zealand) — Part of a series on Christian democracy …   Wikipedia

  • Social Democratic Party (New Zealand) — The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party. During its period of existence, the party held two seats in Parliament. Unity… …   Wikipedia

  • Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) — The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) was a left wing political party in New Zealand in the 1940s. It was a splinter from the larger Labour Party, and was led by the prominent socialist John A. Lee. Party history The Democratic Labour Party… …   Wikipedia

  • Radical Party — may refer to:Europe*Radical Democratic Party (Bulgaria) *Det Radikale Venstre ( The Radical Left ), or Danish Social Liberal Party, DenmarkFrance*Radical Party (France), founded 1901 *Left Radical Party, founded 1972Italy*Radical Party (Italy)… …   Wikipedia

  • New Zealand Liberal Party — This article is about the original New Zealand Liberal Party. At least three subsequent organisations, unconnected to the original, have used the same name: the Liberal Party of 1962, Liberal Party of 1992, and the Liberal Party of 2008. The… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”