Campaign for a More Prosperous Britain

Campaign for a More Prosperous Britain
Leader Tom Keen
Founded 1974
Dissolved c.1982
Headquarters Manchester
Ideology Anti-labourism

The Campaign for a More Prosperous Britain was a political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded prior to the February 1974 general election by Tom Keen and Harold Smith, both business owners in Manchester.

Keen was the party's leader. He had become a millionaire through property development, and before forming the campaign, had donated money to the National Front.[1]

The party called for voters not to vote for its candidates, but for tactical voting to defeat the Labour Party; it distributed anti-Labour literature. Despite this, some of its candidacies received hundreds of votes, with Keen's candidacy in Portsmouth South at the October 1974 UK general election attracting 1.0% of all the votes cast.[2]

The party first came to public attention when members plastered the headquarters of the Trades Union Congress with anti-union posters.[3] It was also strongly opposed to the Communist Party of Great Britain.[4]

Smith stood against Labour Party leader Harold Wilson at the February 1974 UK general election, taking 234 votes.[2] At the October general election, Keen and Smith set a new record by standing simultaneously in eleven and twelve constituencies, respectively.[5] With two associates who stood in a single constituency each, the campaign stood in a total of 25 seats, receiving 4,301 votes.[4] Each constituency was a marginal seat held by the Labour Party, but Labour held each seat at the election.[6]

Keen stood for the party again in the 1979 general election and several by-elections. However, the party was apparently dissolved in the early 1980s, Keen standing in five Labour seats at the 1983 UK general election as an independent.[2]

Results

February 1974 general election

Constituency Candidate Votes[2] Percentage Position Result
HuytonSmith, HaroldHarold Smith2340.44 Labour hold

October 1974 general election

Constituency Candidate Votes[4] Percentage Position Result
Aldridge-BrownhillsKeen, TomTom Keen2100.44 Labour hold
Battersea SouthKeen, TomTom Keen1700.64 Labour hold
Birmingham HandsworthKeen, TomTom Keen1050.34 Labour hold
Birmingham Perry BarrKeen, TomTom Keen860.25 Labour hold
Birmingham YardleyKeen, TomTom Keen1110.25 Labour hold
Bolton EastSmith, HaroldHarold Smith1490.35 Labour hold
Bradford WestSmith, HaroldHarold Smith3390.84 Labour hold
ChorleySmith, HaroldHarold Smith1850.34 Labour hold
Coventry South WestKeen, TomTom Keen1440.35 Labour hold
Derby NorthSmith, HaroldHarold Smith2420.44 Labour hold
Glasgow GovanClyde, T.T. Clyde270.16 Labour hold
GravesendKeen, TomTom Keen2390.45 Labour hold
Huddersfield WestSmith, HaroldHarold Smith1360.35 Labour hold
Ilford SouthKeen, TomTom Keen1690.44 Labour hold
KeighleyDeakin, Charles WilliamCharles William Deakin1790.45 Labour hold
LoughboroughSmith, HaroldHarold Smith1250.25 Labour hold
Manchester Moss SideSmith, HaroldHarold Smith960.35 Labour hold
Middleton and PrestwichSmith, HaroldHarold Smith2340.44 Labour hold
Portsmouth NorthKeen, TomTom Keen5271.04 Labour hold
Preston NorthSmith, HaroldHarold Smith1380.34 Labour hold
Preston SouthSmith, HaroldHarold Smith870.25 Labour hold
PutneyKeen, TomTom Keen1250.34 Labour hold
SowerbySmith, HaroldHarold Smith1570.44 Labour hold
Walsall SouthKeen, TomTom Keen1500.45 Labour hold
YorkSmith, HaroldHarold Smith3040.54 Labour hold

By-elections, 1974-1979

Election Candidate Votes Percentage Position Result
Coventry North West by-election, 1976Keen, TomTom Keen400.16 Labour hold

1979 general election

Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position Result
Bristol North WestKeen, TomTom Keen730.15 Conservative gain
Bristol South EastKeen, TomTom Keen660.15 Labour hold
Colne ValleyKeen, TomTom Keen1010.24 Liberal hold
Coventry North WestKeen, TomTom Keen980.34 Labour hold
Coventry South WestKeen, TomTom Keen1440.35 Conservative gain
Huddersfield WestKeen, TomTom Keen1010.24 Conservative gain

By-elections, 1979-1983

Election Candidate Votes Percentage Position Result
Warrington by-election, 1981Keen, TomTom Keen100.011 Labour hold
Beaconsfield by-election, 1982Keen, TomTom Keen510.16 Conservative hold

At Beaconsfield, Keen stood under the description "Benn in 10 unless Proportional Representation".

References

  1. Labour Research Department, The National Front investigated, p.23
  2. 1 2 3 4 David Boothroyd, Politico's guide to the history of British political parties, p.28
  3. Institute for the Study of Conflict, Sources of conflict in British industry, p.34
  4. 1 2 3 F. W. S. Craig, Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885–1974, p.128
  5. Peter Barberis et al, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations, p.320
  6. Labour Party, Conference (vol.74), p.27
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