The Rural and Urban Political Party is a political party

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 Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...

.

It was founded in June 2010 by MP

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 Samuel Manetoali

Samuel Manetoali

Samuel Manetoali is a member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. He represents a constituency from Isabel Province. He served as the Solomon Islands' Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services in Prime Minister Derek Sikua's Cabinet until May 2009, when he was...

 as a split-away from the Party for Rural Advancement, specifically to take part in the August 2010 general election

Solomon Islands general election, 2010

A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...

.

The party's stated policy priorities upon its launch were economic growth and security. Manetoali called for small business centres to be set up all over the country, along with appropriate infrastructure, to enable local people's participation in business, and stimulate growth.

Manetoali was successfully re-elected in his constituency of Gao-Bugotu, but no other candidate from the party obtained a seat. Manetoali then supported Danny Philip

Danny Philip

Danny Philip is a politician and diplomat from the Solomon Islands. He is the current Prime Minister, who came into office after the 2010 general election. He served as foreign minister from 1995 to 1996 and from July 2000 to June 2001...

's successful bid for the premiership, and obtained the position of Minister for Tourism and Culture in Philip's Cabinet.