Peace and Progress Party

Peace and Progress
Founded 2004
Split from Marxist Party
Headquarters 54-57 Allison Street, Birmingham, B5 5TH
Ideology Human rights
Political position Far-left
Website
http://www.peaceandprogress.org/

The Peace and Progress Party is a British political party founded by Vanessa and Corin Redgrave to campaign for human rights. Combining the Redgraves, formerly leading figures in the Workers' Revolutionary Party and the Marxist Party, with others from the media and legal fields, the party campaigns for the rights of refugees and political dissidents.

The party was launched in November 2004 and called for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, the return of British detainees from Guantanamo Bay and the cancellation of Third World debt.[1][2] The party urged support from those in other parties, including the Conservatives, who upheld human rights.[3]

The party received the support of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was later murdered,[3] and of Azmat Begg, father of Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, who stood for the party at the 2005 general election in Birmingham Hodge Hill.[4][5] The party had suggested that Moazzem Begg and another detainee, Richard Belmar, would stand as absentee candidates.[6] Babar Ahmad, wanted by the US authorities on terrorism charges, stood in Brent North.[7] Peace and Progress made a negligible impact at the 2005 general election, losing their deposit in each of the three seats they stood in.[8] Ahmad received 685 votes (1.9%),[9] Amzat Begg received 329 votes (1.2%),[10] and Sylvia Dunn received 22 votes (0.1%) in Folkestone and Hythe.[11]

According to its Electoral Commission registration its leader is Chris Cooper, Sue Conlan is the nominating officer, and Edmund Quinn the treasurer.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Redgraves launch party". The New York Times. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "Redgraves launch political party". BBC Online. 28 November 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  3. 1 2 Branigan, Tania (17 November 2004). "Disillusioned with politics? Vote Redgrave!". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  4. ↑ "Detainee's father in election bid". BBC Online. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  5. ↑ Perkins, Anne (21 April 2005). "Terror suspect appeals to the ballot box". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  6. ↑ "Terror suspect to battle Straw". icBirmingham. 23 January 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "US terror suspect up for election". BBC News. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  8. ↑ Cohen, Nick (8 May 2005). "Of cults and conmen". London: The Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  9. ↑ "Brent North constituency profile". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "Birmingham Hodge Hill constituency profile". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  11. ↑ "Folkestone and Hythe constituency profile". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "Peace and Progress". Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  • Official website
  • Thorpe, Vanessa (21 November 2004). "Redgrave enters stage left and aims for the centre". The Observer. London. Retrieved 14 February 2010.


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