British Empire Party

The British Empire Party was a minor right-wing party in the United Kingdom. It was founded in the early 1950s by P. J. Ridout, a former member of the Imperial Fascist League.^[1]

In the 1951 general election, the party stood one candidate, Trefor David, in Ogmore, who received 1,643 votes. A former Plaid Cymru member and miner, David gained some supporters amongst local miners but saw his support reduced after a local paper revealed the fascist past of Ridout.^[2]

The party gained a brief boost in 1951 when Arnold Leese told his followers to join the group, although ultimately the minor levels of support that Leese commanded made little difference.^[3]

References

1. Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations
2. David Boothroyd, Politico's Guide to the History of British Political Parties, 2001, p. 17
3. Dave Renton, Fascism, Anti-Fascism and Britain in the 1940s, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000, p. 51