The Progressive Labour Movement was a major

centre-left Centre-left politics lean to the left on the left–right political spectrum but are closer to the centre than other left-wing politics. Those on the centre-left believe in working within the established systems to improve social justice. The ...

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...

Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda (, ) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two majo ...

and, until the 2000s, was the only political party to have defeated the

Antigua Labour Party The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. The current leader of the party is Gaston Browne, who serves as the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. The party had previously been led by Lester Bird ...

in an election.

History

The party was established in 1968 under the leadership of

George Walter Sir George Herbert Walter, KNH (8 September 1928 – 4 March 2008) was an Antiguan politician of the Progressive Labour Movement and Premier of Antigua and Barbuda from 14 February 1971 to 1 February 1976. Political career Born 1928, Walter ...

and Donald Halstead, emerging from the Antigua Workers Union, which had been established in 1967 as a breakaway from the

-affiliated

Antigua Trades and Labour Union The Antigua Trades and Labour Union (ATLU) is a national Trade union of Antigua and Barbuda. It was formed in 1939 and is closely related to the Antigua Labour Party. It has a membership of 7,000 and is led by Wigley George as president. His ...

. In the 1971 election, it won 57.7% of the vote and 13 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives, the first time the

had lost an election. Walter became

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

. A series of corruption scandals involving PLM ministers, together with a severe economic downturn caused by the Oil Shock, led to a drop in support for the PLM. Nevertheless, it still won a plurality of votes in the 1976 elections. However, despite receiving the most votes, it won only five seats, whilst the ALP won 11.Nohlen, pp68-70 In the 1980 elections, the party lost more support, and won only three seats. A further slump saw them lose their parliamentary representation following the 1984 elections, in which they received only 356 votes. It did not contest the 1989 elections and, in 1992 it was one of three parties that merged to form the United Progressive Party.Nohlen, p63

Electoral results

House of Representatives

References

Labour parties Defunct political parties in Antigua and Barbuda Political parties established in 1968 1968 establishments in Antigua and Barbuda Political parties disestablished in 1992 1992 disestablishments in Antigua and Barbuda Social democratic parties in North America {{Antigua-party-stub