List of political parties in the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands has a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, creating difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party. In none of the previous four elections has a candidate who was not standing for any party other than one of the two main parties won a seat (although one candidate has won running as an independent). Prior to 1999 there were a number of multi-party elections with four or more parties contesting and three or more parties winning seats.
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the British Virgin Islands |
---|
Active parties
There are four main parties active at present in the Territory, and between them they hold all of the seats in the legislature. Two of them were formed in 2018, the other two are much older.
Party | Founded | Leader | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Virgin Islands Party | 1971 | Andrew Fahie | Current ruling party. General election victories in 1979, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2007 and 2019 |
National Democratic Party | 1999 | Myron Walwyn* | Current main opposition party. General election victories in 2003, 2011 and 2015 |
Progressives United | 2018 | Julian Fraser | |
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement | 2018 | Ronnie Skelton* | |
* Party leader failed to win their seat in the 2019 general election. Accordingly, status as party leader remains unclear. For the NDP, Marlon Penn serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly. |
Defunct parties
Several parties have previously held seats in the British Virgin Islands legislature but are no longer current or active.
Party | Comments |
---|---|
United Party | General election victories in 1967, 1975 and 1983. Last candidate elected was Andre Penn in 1995. Last candidate to stand was Conrad Maduro in a 2005 by-election. |
VI Democratic Party | Won the 1971 general election (together with Willard Wheatley (Ind)). Contested each general election from 1967 to 1979 except for 1975. Formed main opposition party after 1967 general election. Last won seats in 1971 (three candidates). Last candidate to stand was Q.W. Osborne in 1979. |
People's Own Party | Never won a general election. Only contested the 1967 general election, winning one seat. |
Independent People's Movement | Put forward two candidates in the 1990 general election; one was elected (Omar Hodge). No other electoral appearances. |
Unelected parties
A number of political parties have been formed but failed to win any seats. Only one of these parties has ever contested more than a single election (one of the parties named the Concern Citizen Movement contested two general elections; an unrelated party also named the Concern Citizen Movement contested a third).
Party | Comments |
---|---|
Virgin Islands Progressive Party | Contested the 1975 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Virgin Islands National Movement | Contested the 1979 general election but failed to win any seats. |
People's Party | Contested the 1986 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Progressive People's Democratic Party | Contested the 1990 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Concern Citizen Movement (first incarnation) |
Contested the 1995 general election and 1999 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Concern Citizen Movement (second incarnation - unrelated) |
Contested the 2007 general election but failed to win any seats. |
People's Patriotic Alliance | Contested the 2011 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Party of the People | Contested the 2011 general election but failed to win any seats. |
People's Empowerment Party | Formed by sitting member of the House, Alvin Christopher and contested the 2015 general election but failed to win any seats. |
People's Coalition Movement | Contested the 2015 general election but failed to win any seats. |
Electoral history of main parties
History of the political parties who have won at least one seat at a general election.
Party | Elections contested | Elections won |
---|---|---|
Virgin Islands Party | 13 1971 - 2019 |
7 1979, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2019 |
United Party | 9 1967 - 2003 |
3 1967, 1975, 1983 |
National Democratic Party | 6 1999 - 2019 |
3 2003, 2011, 2015 |
VI Democratic Party | 3 1967, 1971, 1979 |
1 1971 |
People's Own Party | 1 1967 |
0 |
Independent People's Movement | 1 1990 |
0 |
Positive Virgin Islands Movement | 1 2019 |
0 |
Progressives United | 1 2019 |
0 |
See also
- List of political parties