National Independence Party (UK)
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The National Independence Party was a minor right wing party that appeared in British politics during the 1970s. The party was led by John Davis, and campaigned on a platform similar to that of the much bigger National Front i.e. anti-immigration, anti-European Economic Community, anti-communism etc.
The party competed in a number of elections during the early 1970s and included amongst its patrons Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, a leading opponent of the Common Market. The NIP worked closely with the NF during the leadership of John O'Brien, although this did not continue when John Tyndall took charge. O'Brien defected to the NIP (due to Tyndall's continued links with neo-nazis) and brought his supporters with him, in a move that was expected to signal a huge up-turn in the fortunes of the party. However, despite O'Brien's tireless work, the NIP simply lacked the profile that the NF had built up and so they failed to make any gains. Their best performance however came in the February 1974 general election when Patrick Coney, standing as National Independence - Anti-Common Market captured 4.4% of the vote in Tottenham, defeating the NF's Roy Painter. Coney would go on to be elected as a local councillor for the NIP and later as an independent. Despite this one-off the party carried on until 1976 without becoming a force.
[edit] References
- M. Walker, The National Front, Glasgow: Fontana Collins, 1977
