Free England Party
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Free England Party
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|---|---|
| Leader | Tom Wyatt |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Dissolved | 2009 |
| Ideology | Euroscepticism, English nationalism, English independence |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colours | Red and white |
The Free England Party was a right-wing political party in the United Kingdom, which campaigned for English independence. Founded in 2008, and registered with the Electoral Commission in February of that year, it was at the time the largest English civic nationalist party in the United Kingdom. The Free England Party was formed in 2008 by Andrew Constantine and Richard Aitkins, both former members of the English Democrats. The party was formed due to the alleged "appalling mismanagement of England by the British government", following the devolution legislation enacted in the 1990s by Tony Blair's Labour government.
The party was disbanded in 2009 after some of the leadership tried to force the party into an ethnic nationalist direction.
In the May 2008 London Assembly election, Constantine, the then party leader, stood in the South West constituency, finishing in eighth place with 2,908 votes, 1.52% of the total.
In the local elections held on the same day, Martin Thompson contested the Fawdon ward of Newcastle City Council, receiving 367 votes, 12.4% of the total, forcing the Conservative candidate into fourth place.
The party secretary, Richard Aitkins, stood in the Pin Green ward of Stevenage Borough Council, receiving 158 votes, 11.6% of the total. In a subsequent by-election in September 2008, he received 81 votes (6.2%).
The party decided not to stand in the 2009 European or county elections and to conserve resources for the upcoming general election.
The party described itself as "civic nationalist", and its constitution stated that "Membership can be acquired by anyone, whatever their ethnicity, religion or culture."
There was to be a proposal at the annual general meeting in December 2009 to change the party stance to that of ethnic nationalism.
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