Winston McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Winston Truman McKenzie is a UK politician, notable for having joined every major political party, and for having stood as an independent or minor party candidate on numerous occasions. He most recently finished last in the 2010 UKIP leadership contest.
McKenzie was originally a middleweight boxer and was the All England National Amateur Boxing Champion, and he is an older brother of boxer Duke McKenzie
. He contended that after an underprivileged childhood, "boxing was my salvation". However, his boxing career was cut short at 23 by two detached retinas. He later worked as a hairdresser, a rug wholesaler, a letting agent and a garage mechanic. He also ran a pub with his brothers, the McKenzie Bros Bar & Grill, which closed down in 2002 after a police raid resulted in 25 people on the premises being charged with drugs and firearms offences. He is now a youth worker.
In 2005, he unsuccessfully auditioned for "The X Factor
".
in the 1980s. In 2002, he joined the Liberal Democrats, and in February 2003 was quoted in the press as saying ""I'm still very involved with the Liberal Democrats and have every intention of standing for MP in the next election."". By the September 2003 Brent East by-election
, he had left the Liberal Democrats, and he stood as an Independent candidate, on a slogan of "The black voice for Great Britain" and a platform of an immediate end to all immigration and asylum, and increasing sports facilities for young people. He polled 197 votes (0.94%), coming 7th out of 16 candidates.
In 2004, McKenzie joined the newly-formed Veritas
party, calling for "a blanket ban on immigration and asylum for one year", and becoming its principal spokesman on sport. In the 2005 general election
, he stood for Veritas in Croydon North
, coming 7th of 9 candidates with 324 votes (0.7%). After the election, he attacked party leader Robert Kilroy-Silk
, whom he publicly blamed for his defeat, and for his lost deposit and other financial losses as a result of his campaign. He resigned from Veritas 2 weeks after the 2005 election (and 3 months after originally joining), before then rejoining Veritas when Kilroy-Silk stepped down as leader, so that he could stand for leader of Veritas. He lost. In between his two short memberships of Veritas, he stood in the 16 June 2005 Fieldway by-election to Croydon Council, as an Independent. He came 4th of 5 candidates, polling 47 votes (2.47%) - the only candidate he beat was standing for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
.
After the local press reported his 2004 "inaugural Croydon youth games ended in farce [in] October after many events were cancelled at short notice", he accused the local Conservative
council of being "racist" in failing to support the endeavour, but he appears to have changed his opinion of the Conservatives by November 2006, when he joined the Conservative party, announcing his intention to be the next Mayor of London
. He stood in 2007 for the Conservative party's nomination, but failed to attract enough support to make the shortlist. He then left the Conservative Party by the end of the year, and stood in the 2008 Mayoral election as an Independent candidate, under the slogans "I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee; I've got the policies they can't see" and "They said it couldn't be done". He came last of the 10 candidates, polling 5,389 votes. (0.22%)
In March 2009, McKenzie founded The Unity Party and announced he would be the Unity Party candidate for Croydon Central
at the next UK general election. In October 2009, McKenzie reported that Unity had folded as a party because of the withdrawal of its main financial backer.
In September 2009 he joined the United Kingdom Independence Party
and immediately announced he was a candidate in their leadership election to succeed Nigel Farage
. However, as he was still the leader of the Unity Party, he was barred from standing in the leadership election, and his candidature was blocked. In February 2010 McKenzie was adopted as UKIP's candidate for Tottenham
. In the 2010 general election he came 6th of 10 candidates in Tottenham, polling 466 votes (1.1%).
In September 2010, McKenzie stood again for leader of UKIP, after Lord Pearson of Rannoch resigned having only been leader for nine months. He came last of the four candidates, with 530 votes cast - his 5.3% share of the vote was his strongest showing in any election.
McKenzie was originally a middleweight boxer and was the All England National Amateur Boxing Champion, and he is an older brother of boxer Duke McKenzie
Duke McKenzie
Duke McKenzie MBE is a British former professional boxer, now a boxing commentator for broadcaster ITV.-Boxing career:Previously a highly successful professional boxer, McKenzie has been British champion at two weights, a European champion once and World champion at three different weights...
. He contended that after an underprivileged childhood, "boxing was my salvation". However, his boxing career was cut short at 23 by two detached retinas. He later worked as a hairdresser, a rug wholesaler, a letting agent and a garage mechanic. He also ran a pub with his brothers, the McKenzie Bros Bar & Grill, which closed down in 2002 after a police raid resulted in 25 people on the premises being charged with drugs and firearms offences. He is now a youth worker.
In 2005, he unsuccessfully auditioned for "The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
".
Political career
McKenzie first joined the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the 1980s. In 2002, he joined the Liberal Democrats, and in February 2003 was quoted in the press as saying ""I'm still very involved with the Liberal Democrats and have every intention of standing for MP in the next election."". By the September 2003 Brent East by-election
Brent East by-election, 2003
The Brent East by-election, 2003 was caused by the death on 18 June 2003 of the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brent East, Paul Daisley, of the Labour Party....
, he had left the Liberal Democrats, and he stood as an Independent candidate, on a slogan of "The black voice for Great Britain" and a platform of an immediate end to all immigration and asylum, and increasing sports facilities for young people. He polled 197 votes (0.94%), coming 7th out of 16 candidates.
In 2004, McKenzie joined the newly-formed Veritas
Veritas (political party)
Veritas is a political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 at Hinckley golf club by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk following a split from the United Kingdom Independence Party . Kilroy-Silk served as party leader from formation, through the 2005 General Election, until...
party, calling for "a blanket ban on immigration and asylum for one year", and becoming its principal spokesman on sport. In the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, he stood for Veritas in Croydon North
Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, coming 7th of 9 candidates with 324 votes (0.7%). After the election, he attacked party leader Robert Kilroy-Silk
Robert Kilroy-Silk
Robert Michael Kilroy-Silk is an English former politician, former independent Member of the European Parliament, and former television presenter, best known for his daytime talk show Kilroy. He has been a university lecturer and Labour Party Member of Parliament...
, whom he publicly blamed for his defeat, and for his lost deposit and other financial losses as a result of his campaign. He resigned from Veritas 2 weeks after the 2005 election (and 3 months after originally joining), before then rejoining Veritas when Kilroy-Silk stepped down as leader, so that he could stand for leader of Veritas. He lost. In between his two short memberships of Veritas, he stood in the 16 June 2005 Fieldway by-election to Croydon Council, as an Independent. He came 4th of 5 candidates, polling 47 votes (2.47%) - the only candidate he beat was standing for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
.
After the local press reported his 2004 "inaugural Croydon youth games ended in farce [in] October after many events were cancelled at short notice", he accused the local Conservative
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...
council of being "racist" in failing to support the endeavour, but he appears to have changed his opinion of the Conservatives by November 2006, when he joined the Conservative party, announcing his intention to be the next Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. He stood in 2007 for the Conservative party's nomination, but failed to attract enough support to make the shortlist. He then left the Conservative Party by the end of the year, and stood in the 2008 Mayoral election as an Independent candidate, under the slogans "I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee; I've got the policies they can't see" and "They said it couldn't be done". He came last of the 10 candidates, polling 5,389 votes. (0.22%)
In March 2009, McKenzie founded The Unity Party and announced he would be the Unity Party candidate for Croydon Central
Croydon Central (UK Parliament constituency)
The comparison is with the notional 2005 result for the new boundaries which made Croydon Central a Labour defence.-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- Notes and references :...
at the next UK general election. In October 2009, McKenzie reported that Unity had folded as a party because of the withdrawal of its main financial backer.
In September 2009 he joined 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...
and immediately announced he was a candidate in their leadership election to succeed 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....
. However, as he was still the leader of the Unity Party, he was barred from standing in the leadership election, and his candidature was blocked. In February 2010 McKenzie was adopted as UKIP's candidate for Tottenham
Tottenham (UK Parliament constituency)
Tottenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
. In the 2010 general election he came 6th of 10 candidates in Tottenham, polling 466 votes (1.1%).
In September 2010, McKenzie stood again for leader of UKIP, after Lord Pearson of Rannoch resigned having only been leader for nine months. He came last of the four candidates, with 530 votes cast - his 5.3% share of the vote was his strongest showing in any election.