| Description | The New Party has its origins in an initiative entitled "A New Party for Britain" launched in late 2002, at a time when speculation about the possibility of a split in the UK Conservative Party was rife, during the leadership of Iain Duncan-Smith. No official launch occurred, however, until 14 March 2003, when the party was founded under the name Peoples Alliance (sic).
The initial policy program of the party had two main planks: direct democracy with all legislation subject to popular referendum; and Universal Benefit, a direct payment from the state to every citizen as of right, as a replacement for the current benefits system. The party decided immediately to contest the Scottish Parliamentary Election in May 2003, fielding 15 candidates. However, the party received a very small proportion of the vote (only 7,718 votes, 0.4% of the total), and won no seats, notwithstanding the fact that two of the Peoples Alliance candidates, Lyndsay McIntosh and Keith Harding, were outgoing Conservative Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Disappointed with its electoral performance, the party engaged in a period of introspection before relaunching in October 2003 with a revamped manifesto and statement of philosophy and principles, under the name The New Party. |
