Libertas United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Libertas UK may refer to three political parties in the United Kingdom
: one formed by an associate of the United Kingdom Independence Party
(UKIP) and two affiliated to Declan Ganley
's Libertas Party Limited. One of the Libertas affiliates contended the 2009 European Parliament elections
under a common banner with Libertas Party Limited.
.
On 10 March 2009 it was reported that Libertas intended to field candidates in the UK. Kevin O’Connell, a former deputy director of Europol
, former commander in the London Metropolitan Police, and former employee of Libertas stated in The Sunday Times that "if Libertas would have me as a candidate, I would run.” 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". Former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe
, Nigel Farage
's press secretary, then registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission
, making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas could field candidates in the UK under that name. On 11 February 2009, Libertas announced the opening of its United Kingdom office 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.
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. It is under this name that the party fielded candidates in the June 2009 European Parliamentary elections
.
. 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.
that was registered to field candidates in England
for the 2009 Euroelections
.
On 19 December 2008 former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe
, a friend of Nigel Farage
of UKIP registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission
, making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas Party Limited could field candidates in the UK under that name. Rowe's Libertas did not field candidates in the 2009 elections.
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...
: one formed by an associate of the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(UKIP) and two affiliated to Declan Ganley
Declan Ganley
Declan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...
's Libertas Party Limited. One of the Libertas affiliates contended the 2009 European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
under a common banner with Libertas Party Limited.
Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu
Pro-Democracy: Libertas.eu (abbr. unknown: LGB?) is the name of the Libertas Party Limited affiliate in Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
On 10 March 2009 it was reported that Libertas intended to field candidates in the UK. Kevin O’Connell, a former deputy director of Europol
Europol
Europol is the European Union's criminal intelligence agency. It became fully operational on 1 July 1999....
, former commander in the London Metropolitan Police, and former employee of Libertas stated in The Sunday Times that "if Libertas would have me as a candidate, I would run.” O’Connell was the first person to indicate a willingness to run for Libertas in Britain. Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
, leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(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
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
'." Ganley dismissed UKIP's position as "reactionary". Former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe
Bridget Rowe
Bridget Rowe is a former newspaper editor in the United Kingdom.Rowe worked for a succession of magazines: 19, Petticoat, Club, Look Now and Woman's World, before becoming Assistant Editor of The Sun, then editor of "Sunday", the News of the Worlds magazine...
, Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
's press secretary, then registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
, making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas could field candidates in the UK under that name. On 11 February 2009, Libertas announced the opening of its United Kingdom office 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
Robin Matthews
Robin Matthews is the United Kingdom leader of the European party Libertas, which fought all 72 British seats in the June European Parliament election, 2009. He stood as a candidate for South West England....
as its leader.
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. It is under this name that the party fielded candidates in the June 2009 European Parliamentary elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
.
Personnel
| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Robin Matthews Robin Matthews Robin Matthews is the United Kingdom leader of the European party Libertas, which fought all 72 British seats in the June European Parliament election, 2009. He stood as a candidate for South West England.... |
Leader |
| Andrew Jamieson | Nominating Officer |
| Nicholas Coke | Treasurer |
Libertas NI
Libertas NI (abbr. unknown: LNI?) is the name of the Libertas Party Limited affiliate in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It shared offices and some personnel with the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
affiliate but had a different treasurer. It did not field candidates in the 2009 elections.
Personnel
| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Robin Matthews Robin Matthews Robin Matthews is the United Kingdom leader of the European party Libertas, which fought all 72 British seats in the June European Parliament election, 2009. He stood as a candidate for South West England.... |
Leader |
| Andrew Jamieson | Nominating Officer |
| James Millard | Treasurer |
Libertas UK
Libertas UK (abbr. unknown: LUK?) is the name of a political partyPolitical 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...
that was registered to field candidates in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for the 2009 Euroelections
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
.
On 19 December 2008 former newspaper editor Bridget Rowe
Bridget Rowe
Bridget Rowe is a former newspaper editor in the United Kingdom.Rowe worked for a succession of magazines: 19, Petticoat, Club, Look Now and Woman's World, before becoming Assistant Editor of The Sun, then editor of "Sunday", the News of the Worlds magazine...
, a friend of Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
of UKIP registered Libertas UK with the United Kingdom Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
, making it unclear whether Ganley's Libertas Party Limited could field candidates in the UK under that name. Rowe's Libertas did not field candidates in the 2009 elections.
Personnel
| Person | Position |
|---|---|
| Bridget Rowe Bridget Rowe Bridget Rowe is a former newspaper editor in the United Kingdom.Rowe worked for a succession of magazines: 19, Petticoat, Club, Look Now and Woman's World, before becoming Assistant Editor of The Sun, then editor of "Sunday", the News of the Worlds magazine... |
Leader |
| J.M. Greenbough | Nominating Officer |
| Damian Wilson | Treasurer |
See also
- Jens-Peter BondeJens-Peter BondeJens-Peter Rossen Bonde is a former Member of the European Parliament with the June Movement. He resigned as an MEP in May 2008. Bonde was elected to the European Parliament in the first election in 1979 with the People's Movement against the EU. He has been re-elected 6 times consecutively...
- Declan GanleyDeclan GanleyDeclan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...
- European Parliament election, 2009European Parliament election, 2009Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
- Treaty of LisbonTreaty of LisbonThe Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....