People's Democratic Party (United Kingdom)

People's Democratic Party
Chairman Open
Treasurer Open
Founder Lee Robert Holmes
Founded July 2012
Headquarters Newcastle upon Tyne
Ideology Localism, centrism, social justice, populism
Colours Red and blue
Website
http://www.pdpgb.org.uk/home.html

The People's Democratic Party of Great Britain (PDP) is a centrist/centre-right and secular political party in the United Kingdom. It advocates giving democratic power back to "ordinary people" and away from the traditional larger three political parties of the United Kingdom.[1] It also supports equality of opportunity, meritocracy, aspiration, localism, social justice, free quality state education and the National Health Service.[2]

Founding

The party was founded in July 2012 by Lee Robert Holmes. Holmes had been a local candidate for the Conservatives[3] and campaigner against the Iraq war. The party was created in response to what it saw as "career politicians"[4] and a political class that was "out of touch with ordinary people".[5] The major justification for this assertion was given as the budget of 2012, in which George Osborne of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government reduced the top rate of income tax and of corporation tax during a period of austerity, a fall in living standards[6] and reduced disposable income.[7]

Slogan

As of 2014 the party slogan is "Believe in Better & Trust the People!"

Policies

The party's policies are voted upon by members annually.[8] Any proposal that receives sixty percent of a member vote is binding upon the party and becomes policy. New proposals can be submitted to the party leadership throughout the year via email. The party has a mixture of economically conservative and socially liberal policies, for example the party advocates the reduction of "red tape" to enterprise, while supporting civil partnerships and maintaining the UK as signatory member of European Convention on Human Rights. The party supports a living wage for working adults. On matters of constitutional reform, the party wishes to see a reconstituted House of Lords that is partially appointed by local councils as part of the party's localism agenda. The party also supports a reduction in the deposit required for parliamentary elections to £250. In foreign policy, the party advocates more practical assistance for fledgling democracies in the Middle East and an increase in ties between the UK and Commonwealth countries.[9] On the question of the European Union, the party supports a binding referendum on membership after the successful completion of membership renegotiation, with a Royal Commission report on the advantages and disadvantages of membership and a six-month public awareness campaign ahead of the referendum.[9] The party views that "Immigration is an issue of resources not race" and aims to stabilise UK population at current levels.[10]

Campaigns

"None of the Above"

The party is a member of Total Democracy,[11] an alliance of smaller UK based parties, which include the Popular Alliance and the National Liberal Party. PDP and Total Democracy are - as of October 2014 -campaigning to have an option for "None of the Above" to be added to ballot papers in UK Parliamentary and local elections.

"CAP"

The party runs a number of campaigns including Community Advocacy Programme. The Community Advocacy Programme aims to offer practical campaigning aid to community groups and a service for advocacy to local community groups.

"Burst the Westminster Bubble"

The party supports a reduction in the powers centralised in Westminster and a greater distribution of government departments and resources to other regions of the UK, ostensibly to reduce running costs. A greater goal of the party would be a feasibility study regarding the possibility of moving the UK capital from London to the "geographic centre" of the UK.[9]

"Fare Fares"

The party has launched a campaign in the North-East of England, in order to persuade Nexus to reduce costs of shorter journeys on the Tyne & Wear Metro.[12]

Membership

The party is open to membership to anyone over the age of seventeen who is a citizen of the UK, and not a member of another political party. The party has no joining fee or annual membership fees.[13]

Electoral history

The party founder Lee Robert Holmes contested the 2012 Manchester Central by-election, receiving 71 votes and 0.4% of the vote.[4][14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Home". Pdpgb.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  2. ↑ http://nebula.wsimg.com/9f90f5aacb146f28aed0798a1574efd4?AccessKeyId=E6ABF5EAF8E4BFEECF34&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
  3. ↑ "Local Election Results 2011". Gateshead.gov.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  4. 1 2 Holmes, Lee (2012-09-12). "Voters want politicians who listen to their basic concerns | UK news". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  5. ↑ http://nebula.wsimg.com/8b1255ee61652411db5ab7d01f6b06dc?AccessKeyId=E6ABF5EAF8E4BFEECF34&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
  6. ↑ http://www.ifs.org.uk/comms/comm124.pdf
  7. ↑ "BBC News - Disposable income at nine-year low, ONS figures show". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  8. ↑ http://nebula.wsimg.com/6689ef7fe5f7716a842d2ff46a4897e1?AccessKeyId=E6ABF5EAF8E4BFEECF34&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
  9. 1 2 3 http://nebula.wsimg.com/2b76fe3f5e3093153b213052aa08c900?AccessKeyId=E6ABF5EAF8E4BFEECF34&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
  10. ↑ "Policies 2013/14". Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Total Democracy". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  12. ↑ "News/Campaigns". Pdpgb.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  13. ↑ "Home". Pdpgb.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  14. ↑ "BBC News - Labour's Lucy Powell wins Manchester Central election". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  15. ↑ "Manchester Central By-Election 2012 - election result, election coverage". English Elections. 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
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