Liberal Democratic Party (1943–1945)
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was an Australian breakaway political party of the
Divisions in UAP
In 1931
The UAP, in coalition with the Country Party was in power federally and in New South Wales throughout much of the thirties. However, ideological and leadership issues resulted in severe fissures occurring within the conservative political forces towards the end of the decade. These tensions resulted in the party deposing both the NSW Premier Bertram Stevens in 1939 and the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, in 1941. The party also had difficulty endorsing single candidates in safe seats at the 1941 New South Wales state election.
Formation of party
Menzies was succeeded as leader of the UAP by
Prominent party members
White's party attracted a number of young conservative activists who would later be prominent in Australian public life or have political careers in the Liberal Party. They included Bill Wentworth, Norman Thomas (a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the seat of Bondi), Roden Cutler, Brice Mutton and Eileen Furley, the first conservative female member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. However, White's overbearing manner and his insistence that the party have a free trade platform soon caused many of its members to leave.[3] The party gained significant publicity prior to the 1943 federal election, particularly through a weekly broadcast by White over Radio Station 2CH.[4]
Election results
The party stood a number of candidates in New South Wales electorates at the
After the election, the LDP, the New South Wales
However, during the unity conference on 24 November 1943, the LDP walked out of the conference as they were not willing to support retaining the secretary of the UAP, H. W. Horsfield, as the secretary of the new party, as well as retaining members of his staff.[7] Instead, during the same conference, the Commonwealth Party and the New South Wales UAP proceeded to merge without the LDP to form the Democratic Party.[8] As such, LDP remained a separate party to the Democratic Party.
In the lead-up to the 1944 state elections, the LDP party generated publicity disproportionate to its size and the
Joining the Liberal Party
Horsfield, the secretary of the Democratic Party, resigned on 26 July 1944, paving the way for a LDP-Democratic merger again.[10] In August 1944, the LDP initially agreed to merge with the Democratic Party and the new party to be known as the United Democratic Party.[11] However, two days after federal UAP leader Robert Menzies announced that he was planning to set up a new "political movement with a Liberal policy" at an October conference, negotiations between LDP and Democratic Party broke down and the party merger did not take place.[10]
With the formation of the
White remained a disruptive element within the Liberal Party and contested the seat of Warringah against the party's endorsed candidate at the 1954 federal election. In his old age, White would claim that he, rather than Menzies, had been the founder of the Liberal Party.[12]
See also
- 1943 Australian federal election
- 1944 New South Wales state election
- United Australia Party
- Democratic Party (1943) - a similar but separate party to the Liberal Democratic Party
- Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)- successor to the Liberal Democratic Party
References
- ^ a b "Liberal Democratic Party dissolved". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 16 January 1945. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "New party formed". Sydney Morning Herald 17 April 1943 p11. Australian National Library. 17 April 1943. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Split with Mr Cutler". Sydney Morning Herald 25 May 1943 p7. Australian National Library. 25 May 1943. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Building a better world". Sydney Morning Herald 20 May 1943 p9. Australian National Library. 20 May 1943. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "U.A.P. Dissolved - New Body In N.S.W." The West Australian. 9 November 1943. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Agreement Reached by 3 Non-Labor Parties - C.P. Gives Support, Preserves Identity". The Daily Telegraph. 5 November 1943. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "L.D. Delegates Walked Out". The Herald. 24 November 1943. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ ""Democratic Party" Formed". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 1943. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Election prospects: Discord in opposition". Sydney Morning Herald 24 May 1944 p2. Australian National Library. 24 May 1944. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Labor Haters Won't Talk "Unity" With Menzies At Helm". Worker. 4 September 1944. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Parties will unite". Sydney Morning Herald 26 August 1944 p4. Australian National Library. 26 August 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ Evan Whitton (1 August 1981). "Did Menzies found the Liberals?". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 32.