Common Sense Party (UK)
The Common Sense Party was a minor political party in the United Kingdom.[2] It was founded in Reading in 2003 by Howard Thomas, who left the party in 2014. As of May 2020, the UK Electoral Commission lists the part as "Deregistered."[1]
Common Sense Party | |
---|---|
Leader | Howard Thomas |
Founded | 23 October 2003 |
Dissolved | 11 May 2013[1] |
Ideology | Populism |
Colours | Black |
House of Commons | 0 / 650 |
House of Lords | 0 / 777 |
European Parliament | 0 / 73 |
Scottish Parliament | 0 / 129 |
Welsh Assembly | 0 / 60 |
London Assembly | 0 / 25 |
Local government | 0 / 20,690 |
Police & Crime Commissioners | 0 / 40 |
Directly-elected Mayors | 0 / 17 |
Website | |
www.commonsenseparty.org.uk | |
History and elections
The party was formed in 2003 by metalworker Howard Thomas, with the idea of using public opinion to formulate policy, with the view of true representation of the people of the UK.[1][3][4]
Thomas was a candidate in the 2010 United Kingdom general election in Reading West,[5] and gained 852 votes, beating the Green Party. A second candidate, David James, contested Wirral West for the Common Sense Party after his original choice, the Jury Team, decided it would not enter candidates. James came last with 321 votes.[6]
Thomas campaigned in a car and boat dressed up to look like a yellow submarine.[7]
Thomas contested the borough council election in Kentwood ward in Reading for the first time in 2008, campaigning on traffic problems.[8]
In a letter to the Reading Chronicle published on 27 February 2014, Thomas announced he was leaving Common Sense to join UKIP.[9][10] The party was deregistered in November 2013 and the website closed.[3]
Policies
The party argued that immigration should be balanced to match emigration, that council tax should be replaced with income tax, and campaigned for proportional representation,[3][7] more council housing, and the legalisation of euthanasia.[5]
References
- "View registration - The Electoral Commission". registers.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- "Common Sense Party - Party Finance". The Electoral Commission. 5 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- "Common Sense Party Org U.K." www.commonsenseparty.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- Fort, Linda (25 March 2010). "Introducing 'Common Sense' into politics". Get Reading. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- Hewitt, Adam (17 March 2010). "The yellow peril of politics". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- Jury Team (14 April 2010). "Jury Team & GE 2010". Facebook. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- Fort, Linda (27 April 2010). "Common Sense Party "more wonderful than weird"". Get Reading. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- Gray, Fiona (3 April 2008). "We are growing and could do it". Get Reading. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- Reading Chronicle, 27 February 2014, pp 14-15
- Fort, Linda (28 February 2014). "CommonSense party founder makes the leap to UKIP". Reading Chronicle.