Richard Huggett

Richard J. Huggett is a British man who practiced using confusing descriptions on ballot papers. This behaviour may have helped prompt the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998.

He stood in the European Parliament Election, 1994 under the name 'Literal Democrat'. He was apparently motivated by his assertion that political parties, which were not recognised in statute law, had established in British democracy a cartel, having the effect of squeezing out independent and freethinking politicians. The Liberal Democrats blamed him for splitting their vote and losing them the seat.

He stood in the 1997 general election for Winchester under the "Liberal Democrat Top Choice for Parliament" label. The result (a majority of two for Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten) was challenged in court and led to a by-election, which he again contested under the name of "Literal Democrat".