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Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)

From Wikipedia, in a visual modern way
Democratic Labour Party
LeaderRonnie Yearwood
Founded27 April 1955
Split fromBarbados Labour Party
HeadquartersSt. George Street
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left
International affiliationWest Indies Democratic Labour Party (1957–1961)
House of Assembly
0 / 30
Senate
0 / 21
Website
www.dlpbds.org

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP), colloquially known as the "Dems", is a political party in Barbados, established in 1955. It was the ruling party from 15 January 2008 to 24 May 2018 but faced an electoral wipeout in the 2018 general election which left it with no MPs.

In common with Barbados' other major party, the Barbados Labour Party, the DLP has been broadly described as centre-left social-democratic party, with local politics being largely personality-driven and responsive to contemporary issues and the state of the economy. Historically, the BLP claims a heritage from British liberalism,[1] while the DLP was founded 11 years afterwards as a more left-leaning breakaway group.

Discover more about Democratic Labour Party (Barbados) related topics

Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of 432 km2 (167 sq mi) and has a population of about 287,000. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

Barbados Labour Party

Barbados Labour Party

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), colloquially known as the "Bees", is a social democratic political party in Barbados established in 1938. Led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, it is the governing party of Barbados and the sole ruling party in the House of Assembly of Barbados, holding 30 out of 30 seats. The BLP was elected to government on 25 May 2018 after a decade in opposition, with Mottley becoming the country's first female prime minister. The party originally won all of the seats in the House of Assembly, but Bishop Joseph Atherley, the MP for St. Michael West, became an independent MP and the leader of the opposition on 2 June 2018. The party won all 30 seats in the 2022 general election.

Social democracy

Social democracy

Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal-democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented mixed economy. The protocols and norms used to accomplish this involve a commitment to representative and participatory democracy, measures for income redistribution, regulation of the economy in the general interest, and social welfare provisions. Due to longstanding governance by social democratic parties during the post-war consensus and their influence on socioeconomic policy in Northern and Western Europe, social democracy became associated with Keynesianism, the Nordic model, the social-liberal paradigm, and welfare states within political circles in the late 20th century. It has been described as the most common form of Western or modern socialism, as well as the reformist wing of democratic socialism.

History

The DLP was founded in 1955 by Errol Barrow, James Cameron Tudor, Frederick "Sleepy" Smith and 26 others.[2][3] Once members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), these 29 broke away to form this more left-leaning alternative. However, as a result of their common origin, the two parties have been and remain ideologically similar. In the 1956 general election the DLP received 19.9% of the vote and won four seats.[4] In the following election in 1961 it received fewer votes than the BLP, but won a majority of the seats in Parliament, with Barrow becoming Premier.

After the party retained power in the 1966 election (this time with a plurality of the vote),[5] Barrow became the country's first Prime Minister. The party won a third successive election in 1971, but lost power to the BLP in 1976.[6] It remained in opposition until victory in the 1986 election, in which it won 24 of the 27 seats.[6] The DLP remained in power following the 1991 election, but was defeated by the BLP in 1994. It returned to power again in the 2008 election, when DLP leader David Thompson became Prime Minister. Following his death in 2010, Freundel Stuart succeeded to the office, and led the party to a narrow election victory in 2013.

The 2018 election saw the DLP lose all of its MPs. Stuart stepped down as leader, and Verla De Peiza, unopposed in a leadership election held by the party on 1 August 2018, became his successor in the role of DLP leader and president.[7]

After losing the 2022 election which resulted in the DLP not regaining any seats in the House of Assembly, De Peiza resigned on 21 January 2022.[8] Ronnie Yearwood was then later elected DLP president after DLP elections took place on 1 May 2022.[9]

Discover more about History related topics

Barbados Labour Party

Barbados Labour Party

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), colloquially known as the "Bees", is a social democratic political party in Barbados established in 1938. Led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, it is the governing party of Barbados and the sole ruling party in the House of Assembly of Barbados, holding 30 out of 30 seats. The BLP was elected to government on 25 May 2018 after a decade in opposition, with Mottley becoming the country's first female prime minister. The party originally won all of the seats in the House of Assembly, but Bishop Joseph Atherley, the MP for St. Michael West, became an independent MP and the leader of the opposition on 2 June 2018. The party won all 30 seats in the 2022 general election.

1956 Barbadian general election

1956 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 7 December 1956. The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 15 of the 24 seats. MPs were elected across twelve two-member constituencies, using the block vote method. Voter turnout was 60.3%.

1961 Barbadian general election

1961 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 4 December 1961. They were the first held after Barbados was granted full self-government earlier in the year. 24 MPs were elected across twelve two-member constituencies, using the block vote method.

1966 Barbadian general election

1966 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 3 November 1966. This election was the last contested using two-member constituencies, in which each voter had two votes. The result was a victory for the Democratic Labour Party, which won 14 of the 24 seats. This was the last election contested by the Barbados National Party. Once a powerful force in Barbados politics, the party stood only four candidates and was reduced to two seats; the BNP formally disbanded in 1970. Voter turnout was 79.7%.

1971 Barbadian general election

1971 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 9 September 1971. Amendments to the electoral system saw the two-member constituencies previously used replaced by single-member first-past-the-post constituencies. This was also the first election in modern Barbadian history to be contested by only two political parties, not including two independent candidates.

1976 Barbadian general election

1976 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 2 September 1976. The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 17 of the 24 seats, defeating the ruling Democratic Labour Party and returning to power for the first time since 1961. This was the first and only election contested by the newly formed People's Political Alliance, whose eight candidates won only 572 votes. Voter turnout was 74.1%.

1986 Barbadian general election

1986 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 28 May 1986. The result was a landslide victory for the Democratic Labour Party, which won 24 of the 27 seats. Among the Barbados Labour Party MPs who lost their seats was incumbent Prime Minister Harold Bernard St. John. The Workers Party of Barbados contested the elections for the first and only time, the only occasion on which a communist party contested an election in Barbados. Voter turnout was 77%.

1991 Barbadian general election

1991 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 22 January 1991 to elect all 28 members (MPs) of the House of Assembly of Barbados. The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which won 18 of the 28 seats. The opposition Barbados Labour Party led by Henry Forde won ten seats, an increase of seven compared to the 1986 elections. Voter turnout was 63.7%. DLP leader Lloyd Erskine Sandiford remained Prime Minister.

1994 Barbadian general election

1994 Barbadian general election

Early general elections were held in Barbados on 6 September 1994. The result was a victory for the opposition Barbados Labour Party, which won 19 of the 28 seats, with its leader Owen Arthur becoming Prime Minister. The ruling Democratic Labour Party led by David Thompson was reduced to only eight seats. The National Democratic Party became the first third party to win a seat since the Barbados National Party in 1966, with NDP leader, Richard Haynes, winning St. Michael South Central. Voter turnout was 60.9%.

2008 Barbadian general election

2008 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 15 January 2008. A concurrent referendum to determine whether or not to become a republic was initially planned but vote was postponed.

2013 Barbadian general election

2013 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 21 February 2013. They were the first post-independence elections where the election date was announced five years after the last general election. The ruling Democratic Labour Party was re-elected with a reduced majority, winning 16 of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.

2022 Barbadian general election

2022 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 19 January 2022 to elect the 30 members of the House of Assembly. The ruling Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats for the second consecutive election.

Electoral history

House of Assembly elections

Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
1956 Errol Barrow 19,650 19.9%
4 / 24
 Increase 4 Increase 2nd Opposition
1961 39,534 36.3%
15 / 24
 Increase 11 Increase 1st Majority government
1966 72,384 49.6%
14 / 24
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Majority government
1971 53,295 57.4%
18 / 24
 Increase 4 Steady 1st Supermajority government
1976 45,786 46.4%
7 / 24
 Decrease 11 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1981 55,845 47.1%
10 / 27
 Increase 3 Steady 2nd Opposition
1986 80,050 59.4%
24 / 27
 Increase 14 Increase 1st Supermajority government
1991 Erskine Sandiford 59,900 49.8%
18 / 28
 Decrease 6 Steady 1st Majority government
1994 David Thompson 47,979 38.8%
8 / 28
 Decrease 10 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1999 45,118 35.1%
2 / 28
 Decrease 6 Steady 2nd Opposition
2003 Clyde Mascoll 54,746 44.2%
7 / 30
 Increase 5 Steady 2nd Opposition
2008 David Thompson 70,135 53.2%
20 / 30
 Increase 13 Increase 1st Supermajority government
2013 Freundel Stuart 78,851 51.3%
16 / 30
 Decrease 4 Steady 1st Majority government
2018 33,551 21.8%
0 / 30
 Decrease 16 Decrease 2nd Extra-parliamentary
2022 Verla De Peiza 30,273 26.55%
0 / 30
 Steady Steady 2nd Extra-parliamentary

West Indies election

See also: West Indies Democratic Labour Party, 1958 West Indies federal elections, West Indies Federation, and Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation
Election Party Group Leader Votes Seats Position Government
No. Share No. Share
1958[10] DLP Errol Barrow 25,256 20.3%
0 / 5
 0.0% 3rd WIFLP

Discover more about Electoral history related topics

1956 Barbadian general election

1956 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 7 December 1956. The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 15 of the 24 seats. MPs were elected across twelve two-member constituencies, using the block vote method. Voter turnout was 60.3%.

1961 Barbadian general election

1961 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 4 December 1961. They were the first held after Barbados was granted full self-government earlier in the year. 24 MPs were elected across twelve two-member constituencies, using the block vote method.

1966 Barbadian general election

1966 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 3 November 1966. This election was the last contested using two-member constituencies, in which each voter had two votes. The result was a victory for the Democratic Labour Party, which won 14 of the 24 seats. This was the last election contested by the Barbados National Party. Once a powerful force in Barbados politics, the party stood only four candidates and was reduced to two seats; the BNP formally disbanded in 1970. Voter turnout was 79.7%.

1971 Barbadian general election

1971 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 9 September 1971. Amendments to the electoral system saw the two-member constituencies previously used replaced by single-member first-past-the-post constituencies. This was also the first election in modern Barbadian history to be contested by only two political parties, not including two independent candidates.

1976 Barbadian general election

1976 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 2 September 1976. The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 17 of the 24 seats, defeating the ruling Democratic Labour Party and returning to power for the first time since 1961. This was the first and only election contested by the newly formed People's Political Alliance, whose eight candidates won only 572 votes. Voter turnout was 74.1%.

1981 Barbadian general election

1981 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 18 June 1981. The result was a victory for the ruling Barbados Labour Party, which won 17 of the 27 seats. Voter turnout was 71.6%.

1986 Barbadian general election

1986 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 28 May 1986. The result was a landslide victory for the Democratic Labour Party, which won 24 of the 27 seats. Among the Barbados Labour Party MPs who lost their seats was incumbent Prime Minister Harold Bernard St. John. The Workers Party of Barbados contested the elections for the first and only time, the only occasion on which a communist party contested an election in Barbados. Voter turnout was 77%.

1991 Barbadian general election

1991 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 22 January 1991 to elect all 28 members (MPs) of the House of Assembly of Barbados. The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which won 18 of the 28 seats. The opposition Barbados Labour Party led by Henry Forde won ten seats, an increase of seven compared to the 1986 elections. Voter turnout was 63.7%. DLP leader Lloyd Erskine Sandiford remained Prime Minister.

1994 Barbadian general election

1994 Barbadian general election

Early general elections were held in Barbados on 6 September 1994. The result was a victory for the opposition Barbados Labour Party, which won 19 of the 28 seats, with its leader Owen Arthur becoming Prime Minister. The ruling Democratic Labour Party led by David Thompson was reduced to only eight seats. The National Democratic Party became the first third party to win a seat since the Barbados National Party in 1966, with NDP leader, Richard Haynes, winning St. Michael South Central. Voter turnout was 60.9%.

1999 Barbadian general election

1999 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 20 January 1999. The result was a landslide victory for the Barbados Labour Party led by Owen Arthur, which won 26 of the 28 seats. The opposition Democratic Labour Party led by David Thompson, only won two seats. Voter turnout was 63.4%.

2003 Barbadian general election

2003 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 21 May 2003. The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 23 of the 30 seats. Voter turnout was 57%, the lowest since universal suffrage was introduced in 1951.

2008 Barbadian general election

2008 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 15 January 2008. A concurrent referendum to determine whether or not to become a republic was initially planned but vote was postponed.

Source: "Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2022, November 9th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Labour_Party_(Barbados).

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Further Reading

Politics of Barbados

Owen Arthur

Grantley Herbert Adams

Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)

Lloyd Erskine Sandiford

House of Assembly of Barbados

1991 Barbadian general election

2008 Barbadian general election

Mia Mottley

Freundel Stuart

1961 Barbadian general election

2018 Barbadian general election

Joseph Atherley

People's Party for Democracy and Development

2022 Barbadian general election

Verla De Peiza

Alliance Party for Progress
References
  1. ^ Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, Vol. 44 (1998).
  2. ^ "The Party". Official Web Site. Democratic Labour Party. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  3. ^ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p85 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  4. ^ Nohlen, pp92-93
  5. ^ Nohlen, p92
  6. ^ a b Nohlen, p94
  7. ^ "Verla De Peiza elected as the new leader of Barbados' Main Opposition Party | The Habari Network". The Habari Network. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. ^ "DLP president Verla De Peiza resigns". www.nationnews.com. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Dr Ronnie Yearwood elected new DLP president". Barbados Today. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives, Mar 27, 1958, p. 20". NewspaperArchive.com. 27 March 1958. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
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