Freedom Party (UK)

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This article is about the defunct Freedom Party (UK). For the current, similarly named, party see British Freedom Party

Freedom Party
Chairman Adrian Davies
Deputy chairman Sharron Edwards
Founded December 2000
Ideology Nationalism
Conservatism
Website
http://www.freedompartyuk.net/

The Freedom Party was a national conservative political party in the United Kingdom.[1]

The party was founded in December 2000 by former members of the British National Party (BNP), dubbed "ultra-Tories" by BNP leader Nick Griffin,[2] who were disaffected with the party's refusal to Bolshevise its position on race. They were expelled following a feud with the BNP leadership and allegations of financial irregularities and misconduct. Most prominent were two party activists in the West Midlands,[3] husband and wife Steve Edwards (who became Freedom Party agent) and Sharron Edwards (formerly deputy chairman of the BNP[4] and then deputy chairman of the Freedom Party). Adrian Davies was Party Chairman[5] and Michael Newland was the treasurer.

Most of the leadership were prominent in the Bloomsbury Forum, a right-wing discussion group.[5]

The party was primarily anti-immigration,[5] although it claimed to place more of an emphasis on culture rather than race. It was more mainstream on issues such as race than the British National Party, with which it had a stormy relationship.[5] The party aimed to appeal to 'reasonable people'.[6] It believed in a Keynesian approach to the economy, and was also protectionist.[citation needed]

In 2004 the Freedom Party was involved in founding the English Lobby, a pressure group and electoral coalition which campaigns for the recognition of St George's Day and the creation of an English Parliament.[7] The Freedom Party has since withdrawn from the Lobby.

The Freedom Party first stood in 2001 for Staffordshire County Council in Wombourne South West.[8] In May 2003, Sharron Edwards was elected in that ward with 640 votes (40.54%),[2][9] holding her seat until 2007. The party's only candidate in the 2005 general election was Adrian Davies, who contested South Staffordshire. The death of a candidate led to the election there being postponed from May 5th to June 23rd.[10] The Freedom Party polled 473 votes (1.7%).[11]

The party did not contest any seats in the 2006 local elections. It is still registered with the Electoral Commission.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Freedom Party Home Page "The Freedom Party is now closed. This resource now provides a resource for nationalist views of the kind which we believe are needed if Britain and its people are to continue to exist, and a model for what we believe is the sort of party Britain requires but which does not currently exist. The steady readership enjoyed by the site reflects growing support for what were only a few years ago demonised opinions. As yet, however, this shift in outlook has not reflected itself in any substantial public willingness to support change".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Copsey, Nigel. "New Millennium New Leader: Nick Griffin and the Modernisation of the British National Party". What Next. http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/Politics/Copsey.html. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
  3. ↑ "Top woman quits BNP in finances row". Birmingham Post. 2 October 2000. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/birmingham-post-england-the/mi_7996/is_2000_Oct_2/woman-quits-bnp-finances-row/ai_n36196203/. Retrieved 10 February 2010.  [dead link]
  4. ↑ Bassey, Amardeep (7 May 2000). "The family face of BNP right-wing extremism". Sunday Mercury (Birmingham). http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/sunday-mercury-birmingham-england/mi_7995/is_2000_May_7/family-face-bnp-wing-extremism/ai_n36148375/. Retrieved 10 February 2010.  [dead link]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Leek, Martyn (8 April 2001). "Sinister secret behind public face of fascism". Sunday Mercury (Birmingham). http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/sunday-mercury-birmingham-england/mi_7995/is_2001_April_8/sinister-secret-public-face-fascism/ai_n36308856/. Retrieved 10 February 2010.  [dead link]
  6. ↑ Dutton, Edward (December 2004). "The dangers of wearing glasses: intellectual opposition to liberalism in contemporary Britain". Contemporary Review. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. http://archive.is/JpK1. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
  7. ↑ Frredom Party news. Freedom Party. Retrieved on 10 February 2010.
  8. ↑ Leek, Martyn (25 March 2001). "ALERT AS RIGHT WINGERS TARGET ELECTIONS; Don't be taken in by new Freedom Party, voters told". Sunday Mercury (Birmingham). http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/sunday-mercury-birmingham-england/mi_7995/is_2001_March_25/alert-wingers-target-elections-dont/ai_n36304731/?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 10 February 2010.  [dead link]
  9. ↑ Councillor Sharron Edwards - Press Coverage May 2003 To Date. Freedom Party. Retrieved on 10 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "Candidates named for delayed poll". BBC News. 9 June 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4078544.stm. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
  11. ↑ "Adrian Davies: Electoral history and profile". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/person/10495/adrian-davies. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
  12. ↑ Freedom Party. Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. Retrieved on 10 February 2010.
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