Imperial British Conservative Party
The Imperial British Conservative Party was a farcical political party founded by The Wizard of New Zealand in 1974. It "stood for the traditions of British imperialism in the face of capitalism, globalisation and the distinct lack of culture in Christchurch, New Zealand."[1] It was still operating in 1984, though news reports also referred to it as The Wizard Party.[2]
The party contested the 1975 election election on a platform of conserving the monarchy, waging a fourth world war using votes and notices of motion to convert everyone to the British way of life, and the elimination of work to strengthen the family.[3] It planned to stand a dozen candidates.[4] The party stood a candidate in the 1976 Nelson by-election, where a tabulation error in their final results was attributed to a "hex" placed by the Wizard.[5]
For the 1978 election election it changed its name to the Tory Party.[6] It later ran a candidate in the 1980 Onehunga by-election.
At the 1984 election election it ran a candidate against Geoffrey Palmer.[7] It also ran candidates at the 1987 election election.[8]
Activity in Australia
[edit]The Imperial British Conservative Party also had a presence in Australia, especially during the republican debate of the 1990s. The party ran three candidates at the 1983 Australian federal election.[9][10]
One of its candidates, Cecil G. Murgatroyd, had run for parliament in several Australian federal elections, at each time standing against the Prime Minister (initially Bob Hawke), and in the 1992 Wills by-election after Hawke resigned from parliament.[11] In official statements, Murgatroyd listed his occupation as "dole bludger". At other times, Murgatroyd stood under the banner of another New Zealand joke party, the McGillicuddy Serious Party.[citation needed]
In one Australian election in the 1980s, the party promised to dye the Speaker's wig a conservative blue.[citation needed]
Another candidate, James Ferrari (at one point contesting as Jim Ferrari) ran for the party in the seat of Melbourne at every election from 1980 until 2001.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Four parody political parties that have existed in New Zealand". NZ Herald. 15 September 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Back In The Day: Imperial British Conservative Party". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Wizard's stirring call". The Press. 19 June 1975. p. 18. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Wizard's plan public". The Press. 2 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Wizard power at work?". The Press. 1 March 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Tory Channell bid". The Press. 29 August 1978. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "TINKERBELL SADLER GEOFFREY PALMER". The Press. 28 June 1984. p. 25. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Town's 'blue' status in question". The Press. 12 August 1987. p. 25. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "The deadly serious parties line up". The Press. 25 February 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "'Fringe element' in election". The Press. 4 March 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 21 September 2024 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Cecil Godfrey Murgatroyd" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ ""An independent who lists his occupation as "wizard" is running for the lower house seat of Melbourne, held by the ALP stalwart, Mr Lindsay Tanner. Mr James Ferrari, of West Melbourne, is an unofficial member of the Imperial British Conservative Party."". The Age. 12 September 1998.
External links
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