Liberal Socialist Party (Singapore)

The Liberal Socialist Party (LSP) is a defunct political party in the politics of Singapore. It was formed in the 1950s from the merger of the Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) and the Democratic Party (DP), the latter not to be confused with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). The merger occurred in order to consolidate their relatively compatible and similar aims, that of gradual and nonradical progressivism implementing liberal policies.[1]

"Liberal Socialist Party" redirects here. For other uses, see Liberal Socialist Party (disambiguation).
Liberal Socialist Party
Chinese name自由社会党 Zìyóu shèhuìdǎng
Malay nameParti Liberal Sosialis ڤرتي ليبرل سوسياليس
Tamil nameதாராண்மை சமூகவுடைமைக் கட்சி Tārāṇmai camūkavuṭaimaik kaṭci
PresidentJohn Laycock (1956-1963)
ChairpersonNazir Ahmad Mallek(1956-1963)
Secretary-GeneralTan Chye Cheng(1956-1963)
SpokespersonSecretary -General and President
FounderTan Chye Cheng
Founded5 February 1956
Legalised24 May 1961
Dissolved10 September 1963
Merger ofProgressive Party
Democratic Party
Succeeded bySingapore People's Alliance
IdeologyLiberal socialism
Social liberalism
Progressivism
Factions
Democratic socialism
Civil libertarianism
Political positionCentre-left to Left-wing
Factions:
Centre to Centre-left
Election symbol
Torch and hand

The merger occurred because of the weak performance of both parties in the Singapore general election of 1955, but members started to merge with the Singapore People's Alliance (SPA) before the following general election of 1959. The LSP contested the general election of 1959 against the SPA, had a significant showing, gaining more than 8% of the popular vote and contesting 32 seats, but failed to win any of them. Following the election most of the LSP merged with the SPA and the rump of the LSP died out as the now ruling People's Action Party (PAP) gained dominance. The SPA faded away during the incidents of merger, ensuing heated PAP-UMNO relations, and a shifted political focus towards an additional struggle between the PAP and the Barisan Sosialis. The LSP ceased to exist by 1965, when Singapore became fully independent, and never stood candidates for election.[1]

References
  1. "Liberal Socialist Party". www.singapore-elections.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.


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