Gibraltar Conservatives
Gibraltar Conservatives | |
---|---|
MEPs | Ashley Fox |
Headquarters | P.O.Box 419 Suite 16 |
Political position | Centre-right |
European affiliation | Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists |
European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists |
International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
Colours | Blue |
Local affiliation | Gibraltar Social Democrats |
Website | |
Official site | |
The Conservative Party in Gibraltar is the part of the Conservative Party that operates in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is a branch of the South West Region of the Conservative Party. The party does not field candidates in the local elections in the territory, and so far has only ever stood candidates for the European Parliament constituency of South West England and Gibraltar.
History
Gibraltar was first represented in European Elections in 2004 as part of the South West England constituency. None of the main Gibraltar political parties ever contested European elections, so voters chose from United Kingdom party lists. The Gibraltar Social Democrats have however endorsed the Conservatives in European and UK Parliamentary elections.[1][2]
2004
The Conservative Party polled over two-thirds of the Gibraltar vote, with no other party exceeding 10% support. This was to a large part due to the perception that the Labour Government in Britain had "betrayed" Gibraltar by attempting to negotiate a constitutional settlement involving joint sovereignty with Spain.[3] This arrangement was rejected overwhelmingly by Gibraltarians in the 2002 sovereignty referendum. The Conservatives were perceived as being unequivocal in their support for Gibraltar's continued British status. In addition both the leader of the Conservative Party, Michael Howard, and his deputy, Michael Ancram, flew in to rally support. Before the election the local Conservatives mounted a vigorous campaign.
2009
The Conservatives won with 51% of the votes.[4]
2014
On the previous two occasions Gibraltar has participated in European elections, the Conservative Party had topped the poll. The Liberal Democrats won the popular vote in the territory for the first time.[5]
2019
Consistent with the poor performance of the Conservatives throughout the UK in the 2019 election, the party received just 2.7% of the votes in Gibraltar, moving into fifth place with the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party taking the first and second places in the election. Incumbent MEP Ashley Fox lost his seat.[6]
Electoral performance
The below table lists performance in European Parliamentary elections.
Year | Votes (Gib.) | Votes (SW Eng) | % (Gib.) | % (SW Eng) | Change (SW Eng) | Seats | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | 8,297 | 457,371 | 69.52 | 31.6 | -10.1 | 3 | 1 |
2009 | 3,721 | 468,742 | 53.30 | 30.2 | -1.3 | 3 | 1 |
2014 | 1,236 | 433,151 | 17.2 | 28.9 | -1.4 | 2 | 2 |
2019 | 256 | 144,674 | 2.7 | 8.71 | -20.19 | 0 | 5 |
MEPs
Former Conservative MEPs for Gibraltar | width=1px style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Caroline Jackson Conservative 2004-2009[a] |
width=1px style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Neil Parish Conservative 2004-2009[b] |
width=1px style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Giles Chichester Conservative 2004-2014[c] |
width=1px style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Julie Girling Conservative 2009-2017[d] |
width=1px style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Ashley Fox Conservative 2009-2019 |
---|
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "May 08 - GSD Welcomes Tory Win And Repeats Call For Unity Ahead Of Possible EU Referendum". yourgibraltartv.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkbPwaocZw0
- ^ Wilkinson, Isambard (18 May 2004). "The Tories won't let you down, Howard tells Gibraltar". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
- ^ Reyes, Brian (2009-06-08). "LANDSLIDE FOR TORIES DISAPPOINTMENT FOR LABOUR". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ^ Parliament General Election
- ^ http://chronicle.gi/2019/05/gibraltar-votes-lib-dem-eu-election-brexit-party-tops-regional-poll/