Libertas UK may refer to three political parties in the United Kingdom: two are regional affiliates of Declan Ganley's Libertas Party Limited, one of which, Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu, contended the 2009 European Parliament elections under a common banner with Libertas Party Limited. The third was formed by an associate of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).
Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu
editPro-Democracy: Libertas.eu | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Robin Matthews[1] |
| Founded | 10 March 2009[1] |
| Headquarters | 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1 0AU[1] |
| Ideology | anti-Lisbon Treaty, Euroscepticism |
| European affiliation | Libertas Party Limited |
| European Parliament group | none |
| Colours | blue, gold |
| Website | |
| www.libertas.eu/uk/ | |
Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu is the name of the Libertas Party Limited affiliate in Great Britain.
On 10 March 2009, it was reported that Libertas intended to field candidates in the UK.[2] Kevin O’Connell, a former deputy director of Europol, former commander in the London Metropolitan Police, and former employee of Libertas[3] stated in The Sunday Times that "if Libertas would have me as a candidate, I would run”.[3] O’Connell was the first person to indicate a willingness to run for Libertas in Britain. Nigel Farage, leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), criticised Libertas's intention to run in the UK, stating: "I'm a little surprised that Libertas want to stand in the UK as their policy seems almost the same as David Cameron's Conservatives'." Ganley dismissed UKIP's position as "reactionary".[4] Former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe, Nigel Farage's press secretary, then registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission,[5] making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas could field candidates in the UK under that name.[5] On 11 February 2009, Libertas announced the opening of its United Kingdom office[6] at Suite 6.8, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, United Kingdom, SW1. Ganley gave a press conference on 10 March 2009, at which the party was launched and he introduced Robin Matthews as its leader.[1][7]
The party originally registered under the name New Dawn for Europe: Libertas.eu, before changing its name to Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu in April 2009.[8] It is under this name that the party fielded candidates in the June 2009 European Parliamentary elections.[9]
Personnel
edit| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Robin Matthews | Leader[1] |
| Andrew Jamieson | Nominating Officer[1] |
| Nicholas Coke | Treasurer[1] |
Candidates
editResults
editLibertas NI
editLibertas NI | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Robin Matthews[10] |
| Founded | 11 March 2009[10] |
| Headquarters | 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1 0AU[10] |
| Ideology | anti-Lisbon Treaty, Euroscepticism |
| European affiliation | Libertas Party Limited |
| European Parliament group | none |
| Colours | blue, gold |
| Website | |
| www.libertas.eu/uk/ | |
Libertas NI (abbr. unknown: LNI?) is the name of the Libertas Party Limited affiliate in Northern Ireland. It shared offices and some personnel with the Great Britain affiliate but had a different treasurer. It did not field candidates in the 2009 elections.
Personnel
edit| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Robin Matthews | Leader[10] |
| Andrew Jamieson | Nominating Officer[10] |
| James Millard | Treasurer[10] |
Libertas UK
editLibertas UK | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Bridget Rowe[11] |
| Founded | 19 December 2008[11] |
| Headquarters | 400 Main Road, Westerham Hill, TN16 2HP.[11] |
| Ideology | unknown |
| European affiliation | unknown |
| European Parliament group | none |
| Colours | unknown |
| Website | |
| unknown | |
Libertas UK (abbr. unknown: LUK?) is the name of a political party that was registered to field candidates in England[11] for the 2009 Euroelections.
On 19 December 2008[11] former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe, a friend of Nigel Farage[5] of UKIP registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission,[5] making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas Party Limited could field candidates in the UK under that name.[5] Rowe's Libertas did not field candidates in the 2009 elections.
Personnel
edit| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Bridget Rowe | Leader[10] |
| J.M. Greenbough | Nominating Officer[11] |
| Damian Wilson | Treasurer[11] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Electoral Commission->Register of political parties->New Dawn For Europe:Libertas.eu Archived 2009-06-09 at the Wayback Machine"
- ^ Waterfield, Bruno (10 December 2008). "Irish anti-treaty campaigners to run candidates in British elections". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ a b Oakley, Richard (January 25, 2009). "Ex-Europol bigwig to run for Libertas in Brussels vote". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 May 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Irish EU vote plan 'undemocratic'". BBC News. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Libertas faces UK electoral hurdle over party name". Irish Times. January 23, 2009.
- ^ "Libertas.eu opens offices in the UK and Poland". Libertas.eu. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ "Libertas to contest European Elections in UK Archived 2009-03-12 at the Wayback Machine", 10 March 2009, Libertas Party Website
- ^ "The Electoral Commission - Registered Parties". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated: South East Region" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Electoral Commission->Register of political parties->Libertas NI Archived 2009-06-09 at the Wayback Machine"
- ^ a b c d e f g "Electoral Commission->Register of political parties->Libertas UK Archived 2011-02-28 at the Wayback Machine"