Democrats and Veterans

The Democrats and Veterans Direct Democracy Party (DVDDP) was a political party in the United Kingdom. It became the 5 Star Direct Democracy Party.[4]

Democrats and Veterans Direct Democracy Party
AbbreviationDVDDP
LeaderJohn Rees-Evans[1]
Deputy LeaderVacant
Party ChairmanGavin Felton[1]
General SecretaryIan Gorman[1]
Founded10 January 2018 (2018-01-10)
Headquarters29 Kilcredaun House,
Ferry Court,
Cardiff, CF11 0JG, Wales[2]
IdeologyEuroscepticism[3]
Colours  Black
Slogan"We Serve"
House of Commons
0 / 650
Local government
0 / 21,259
Website
Official website

The party was founded in 2018 by former UKIP member and Gulf War veteran Gavin Felton and other ex-servicemen of the British Armed Forces. John Rees-Evans, previously a UKIP leadership candidate, was announced as the first party leader, and Gavin Felton named as chairman.[5]

The party considers itself to be "broadly libertarian in character".[6] Its platform includes complete withdrawal from the European Union, direct democracy, and stronger support for veterans.[6]

Electoral history

In January 2018, the party said it had 321 candidates "ready to fight seats throughout the country." It stated that it would target voters in Essex.[7] The party stood candidates in the May 2018 English local elections, but did not win any seats.[8]

The party fielded Massimo DiMambro as a candidate in the 2018 Lewisham East by-election, who lost his deposit, having received under 5% of the vote.[9]

The party took second place in a Barnsley local by-election in July 2018;[10] took third in a by-election for a seat on Denbighshire Council in September 2018;[11] They won their first two seats on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in May 2019.[12] Cllr Victoria Felton received 1236 votes taking the Monk Bretton seat from Labour after 22 years. However, as of October 2020 the council website shows that of the two elected Democrats and Veterans councillors, one, Trevor Smith, has defected to the Labour Party whilst the other, Victoria Felton, is listed as Independent.[13] In the 2019 general election, Felton ran in Barnsley Central for the Brexit Party, finishing second.

In Northern Ireland, the party stood two candidates in the 2019 local elections gaining 527 votes, the highest amongst the three new parties in the election. The year before, in October 2018, it ran in the Carrick Castle by-election and came fourth in what is the most prominent unionist consistency in NI.[14]

Summary
Date of electionConstituencyCandidateVotes %
14 June 2018Lewisham EastMassimo DiMambro670.3[15]
4 April 2019Newport WestPhilip Taylor1850.8[16]
3 May 2019 Barnsley (Monk Bretton Ward) Victoria Felton 1236 54%
2 May 2019Erne North (NI)Lewis Jennings200.003[17]
2 May 2019Lisburn South (NI)Ricky Taylor2420.04[17]
2 May 2019Carrick Castle (NI)Si Harvey2650.05[17]

References
  1. "EXECUTIVE BOARD". Democrats and Veterans. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  2. "Democrats and Veterans Party: Registration Summary". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. "Ex-Ukipper who said a gay donkey raped his horse launches party with donkey logo". Metro.co.uk. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  4. "Home". 5dd.uk.
  5. Williams, Patrick (21 January 2018). "Army vets on march with new party". Daily Star Sunday. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  6. "Our Values". The Democrats and Veterans Party. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  7. "Party's diarrhoea reference 'deliberate'". BBC News. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  8. "England local elections 2018". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  9. "Voting taking place in Lewisham East by-election". BBC News. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  10. "Old Town Ward by-election - Thursday 12 July 2018 - Results". Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  11. "Election results for Rhyl [Bryn Hedydd]". Denbighshire Council. April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  12. "Local government elections 2019".
  13. "Councillors". 26 December 2021.
  14. "Elections 2018". The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  15. "Lewisham East constituency by-election on 14 June 2018". Lewisham London Borough Council. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. "Newport West By-election results". Newport City Council.
  17. "Council elections 2019: full results (NI)". Irish News. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
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