Integration with Britain Party
Encyclopedia
The Integration with Britain Party (IWBP) was a political party
in Gibraltar
established in February 1967. Although it never won an election, it was briefly in power from 1969 to 1972 when Robert Peliza
of the IWBP was Chief Minister
.
(AACR) got seven seats; the IWBP five; and the independent group led by Peter Isola
three. Joshua Hassan
, the leader of the AACR was unable to get the support of Isola, which, in turn, supported the IWBP. In June 1972, Peliza dissolved the House of Assembly and called for anticipated elections. Although it obtained its better results in an election, obtaining seven seats, it was defeated by the AACR, which obtained eight seats and 52 per cent of vote. The results took Joshua Hassan to power again, remaining Peliza as leader of the Opposition. In October 1972, Maurice Xiberras
took over as party and Opposition leader.
The party political stands were mainly two: the parity of wages between the labour force in Gibraltar and that in the United Kingdom and the achievement of the integration with the United Kingdom. Although the struggle on parity was successful and Gibraltar work force got the parity in July 1978, the party's main aim of closer links with the UK
was dealt a severe blow when in 1975, the British Foreign Office
Minister, Roy Hattersley
, stated that integration was not acceptable to the British Government. In spite of it, during early 1976, a Gibraltarian inter-party Constitution Committee began to work on a proposal of constitutional changes that involved a further integration of Gibraltar with the United Kingdom. A delegation of the Constitution Committee, comprising Joshua Hassan and Maurice Xiberras visited London
in June 1976, but were unable to convince the United Kingdom Government which, as response, issued a memorandum
rejecting the proposals. At the subsequent election, held in September 1976, although Xiberras assured his seat at the Assembly, the AACR obtained eight seats (with a personal vote of 75.3 per cent for its leader Hassan). The party later broke up and was succeeded in 1978 by the Democratic Party of British Gibraltar
, led first by Maurice Xiberras
(who due to family problems resigned his seat in the Assembly in 1979 and relocated to Britain), and subsequently by Peter Isola
.
, began his political career in the IWBP, and was elected to the House of Assembly in 1972. However, he left the party in 1975 to form the Gibraltar Democratic Movement
, which later became the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
.
(IWBM) which is a pressure group that does not field candidates in elections. It is currently chaired by Joe Caruana.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
established in February 1967. Although it never won an election, it was briefly in power from 1969 to 1972 when Robert Peliza
Robert Peliza
Sir Robert John "Bob" Peliza, KBE, ED is a Gibraltarian politician. He founded and led the Integration with Britain Party and was the second Chief Minister of Gibraltar serving in office from 6 August 1969 to 25 June 1972...
of the IWBP was Chief Minister
Chief Minister of Gibraltar
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party elected to the Gibraltar Parliament, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown.-List of Chief Ministers:...
.
History
In the 1969 elections, the Association for the Advancement of Civil RightsAssociation for the Advancement of Civil Rights
The Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights is a now defunct political party in Gibraltar.Like all Gibraltar political parties, it opposed transfer of sovereignty over Gibraltar from the United Kingdom to Spain...
(AACR) got seven seats; the IWBP five; and the independent group led by Peter Isola
Peter Isola
Peter Joseph Isola, OBE, GMH , was a Gibraltarian politician and lawyer. He succeeded Maurice Xiberras as leader of the Democratic Party of British Gibraltar , a political party in Gibraltar.-Early life and career:...
three. Joshua Hassan
Joshua Hassan
Sir Joshua Abraham Hassan, GBE, KCMG, LVO, QC , nicknamed "Salvador" , was a Gibraltarian politician, and first Mayor and Chief Minister of Gibraltar, serving two terms as Chief Minister for a total of 17 years...
, the leader of the AACR was unable to get the support of Isola, which, in turn, supported the IWBP. In June 1972, Peliza dissolved the House of Assembly and called for anticipated elections. Although it obtained its better results in an election, obtaining seven seats, it was defeated by the AACR, which obtained eight seats and 52 per cent of vote. The results took Joshua Hassan to power again, remaining Peliza as leader of the Opposition. In October 1972, Maurice Xiberras
Maurice Xiberras
Maurice Xiberras is a retired Gibraltarian teacher, trade unionist and politician. He is regarded as being a strong defender of British sovereignty, who believes there is no future for Gibraltar without the continuing close relationship with the United Kingdom....
took over as party and Opposition leader.
The party political stands were mainly two: the parity of wages between the labour force in Gibraltar and that in the United Kingdom and the achievement of the integration with the United Kingdom. Although the struggle on parity was successful and Gibraltar work force got the parity in July 1978, the party's main aim of closer links with the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was dealt a severe blow when in 1975, the British Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
Minister, Roy Hattersley
Roy Hattersley
Roy Sydney George Hattersley, Baron Hattersley is a British Labour politician, author and journalist from Sheffield. He served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992.-Early life:...
, stated that integration was not acceptable to the British Government. In spite of it, during early 1976, a Gibraltarian inter-party Constitution Committee began to work on a proposal of constitutional changes that involved a further integration of Gibraltar with the United Kingdom. A delegation of the Constitution Committee, comprising Joshua Hassan and Maurice Xiberras visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in June 1976, but were unable to convince the United Kingdom Government which, as response, issued a memorandum
Hattersley Memorandum
The Memorandum by Her Majesty's Government on the Report of the Constitution Committee, or the Hattersley Memorandum for short , dated 26 June 1976, was the answer of the Labour British Government to proposed constitutional changes in Gibraltar ruling out the possibility of...
rejecting the proposals. At the subsequent election, held in September 1976, although Xiberras assured his seat at the Assembly, the AACR obtained eight seats (with a personal vote of 75.3 per cent for its leader Hassan). The party later broke up and was succeeded in 1978 by the Democratic Party of British Gibraltar
Democratic Party of British Gibraltar
The Democratic Party of British Gibraltar was a right-wing political party founded in 1978 in Gibraltar. It grew out of the now defunct Integration with Britain Party and was led first by Maurice Xiberras, formerly of the IWBP, and subsequently by Peter Isola.It obtained seven seats in the first...
, led first by Maurice Xiberras
Maurice Xiberras
Maurice Xiberras is a retired Gibraltarian teacher, trade unionist and politician. He is regarded as being a strong defender of British sovereignty, who believes there is no future for Gibraltar without the continuing close relationship with the United Kingdom....
(who due to family problems resigned his seat in the Assembly in 1979 and relocated to Britain), and subsequently by Peter Isola
Peter Isola
Peter Joseph Isola, OBE, GMH , was a Gibraltarian politician and lawyer. He succeeded Maurice Xiberras as leader of the Democratic Party of British Gibraltar , a political party in Gibraltar.-Early life and career:...
.
Other former IWBP members
Another Chief Minister, Joe BossanoJoe Bossano
Joseph "Joe" John Bossano is a Gibraltarian politician, and the former leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party. He was Chief Minister of Gibraltar from 25 March 1988 to 17 May 1996. He served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Gibraltar Parliament from its founding in 1978 until April...
, began his political career in the IWBP, and was elected to the House of Assembly in 1972. However, he left the party in 1975 to form the Gibraltar Democratic Movement
Gibraltar Democratic Movement
The Gibraltar Democratic Movement was a political party in Gibraltar. It was the forerunner of the present Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party. Joe Bossano, Chief Minister from 1988 to 1996, left the Integration with Britain Party in 1975 to form the GDM, which later became the GSLP. In the only...
, which later became the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party is the oldest surviving active political party in Gibraltar. Its grass roots are deep in the Trade Union Movement, as its founder and former leader Joe Bossano was the District Officer of the Transport and General Workers Union...
.
Aftermath
The political stands of the IWBP have been currently taken by the Integration With Britain MovementIntegration With Britain Movement
The Integration With Britain Movement is a political pressure group in Gibraltar formed from the now defunct Integration With Britain Party...
(IWBM) which is a pressure group that does not field candidates in elections. It is currently chaired by Joe Caruana.