Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) is a centre-left
political party
in Saint Kitts and Nevis
. It is currently the ruling party in the country after winnign six of the eleven seats in the 2010 general election.
, whilst Nevis
and Anguilla
tended to elect independents and local parties. It was the only party to contest the 1952 elections
and won all eight seats. They retained power in the 1957
despite losing three seats to independents. They went onto win elections in 1961, 1966, 1971 and 1975, winning seven seats on each occasion.
In the 1980 elections
the party was reduced to four seats, and although it was the largest faction in the National Assembly, the opposition People's Action Movement
was able to form a coalition government. The Labour Party was reduced to two seats in the 1984 elections
, and remained with only two MPs after the 1989 elections
. Although it received the most votes in the 1993 elections
and won the same number of seats as the PAM, the PAM remained in power. However, early elections were called in 1995
, in which the Labour Party won a majority of seats. They increased their majority in the 2000 elections
and retained power in elections in 2004
and 2010.
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
. It is currently the ruling party in the country after winnign six of the eleven seats in the 2010 general election.
History
The party was founded by members of the Saint Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, and was known as the Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Labour Party until Anguilla seceded in 1980. The party was led by Robert Bradshaw from 1946 until 1978. The party saw most of its success on Saint KittsSaint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, whilst Nevis
Nevis
Nevis is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, about 350 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. The 93 km² island is part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies...
and Anguilla
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin...
tended to elect independents and local parties. It was the only party to contest the 1952 elections
Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla general election, 1952
General elections were held in Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla on 6 October 1952, the country's first elections held with universal suffrage. The Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Labour Party was the only party to contest the elections and won all eight seats.-Results:...
and won all eight seats. They retained power in the 1957
Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla general election, 1957
General elections were held in Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla on 6 November 1957. The result was a victory for the Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Labour Party, which won five of the eight seats.-Results:...
despite losing three seats to independents. They went onto win elections in 1961, 1966, 1971 and 1975, winning seven seats on each occasion.
In the 1980 elections
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 1980
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 18 February 1980. Although the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party won a plurality of seats, the People's Action Movement were able to form a coalition government with a one-seat majority and PAM leader Kennedy Simmonds became Prime Minister....
the party was reduced to four seats, and although it was the largest faction in the National Assembly, the opposition People's Action Movement
People's Action Movement
The People's Action Movement is a political party in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The party currently holds two of the eleven seats in the National Assembly.-History:...
was able to form a coalition government. The Labour Party was reduced to two seats in the 1984 elections
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 1984
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 25 July 1984. The result was a victory for the People's Action Movement, which won six of the eleven seats. Voter turnout was 77.7%.-Results:...
, and remained with only two MPs after the 1989 elections
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 1989
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 21 Mach 1989. The result was a victory for the People's Action Movement, which won six of the eleven seats.-Results:...
. Although it received the most votes in the 1993 elections
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 1993
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 29 November 1993. No party won a majority, and although the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party received the most votes, the People's Action Movement remained in power. Voter turnout was 64.4%.-Results:...
and won the same number of seats as the PAM, the PAM remained in power. However, early elections were called in 1995
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 1995
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 3 July 1995. The result was a victory for the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, which won seven of the eleven seats. Voter turnout was 68.4%.-Results:...
, in which the Labour Party won a majority of seats. They increased their majority in the 2000 elections
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 2000
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 6 March 2000. The result was a victory for the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, which won eight of the eleven seats. Voter turnout was 64.2%.-Results:...
and retained power in elections in 2004
Saint Kitts and Nevis general election, 2004
General elections were held in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 24 October 2004. They were won by the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, who took over 50% of the vote and seven of the eleven elected seats in the National Assembly....
and 2010.