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The Progressive Labor Party (PLP) is a political party in Bermuda which held power from 1998 to 2012 and is currently the official opposition. == Formation == The first political party in Bermuda, and the oldest still active, the PLP was founded in 1963 by Wilfred Mose Allen, Hugh Ryo Richardson, Albert Peter Smith, Edward DeJean, Walter N.H. Robinson, Austin Wilson and Dilton C. Cann. These seven had earlier met in Richardson's garage, before holding the first formal meeting of the PLP on 10 February 1963 in Robinson's office in Hamilton. Intended to appeal to the working-class, the first election platform called for equitable taxation, an end to racial discrimination, economic parity and welfare programs, as well as housing, educational and electoral reform. The Progressive Labour Party contested its first General Election just three months after its formation in 1963. The Party contested nine of the then thirty-six Parliamentary seats. The PLP's first successful Members of Colonial Parliament (MCPs) were: Mr. Arnold A. Francis (Party Leader), Mr. Walter N. H. Robinson (Deputy Leader), Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans (Bermuda's first black elected woman Member of Parliament) Mr. Russell Dismont, Mr. Cecil Clarke and Mrs. Dorothy Thompson. Bermuda received its first constitution in 1968, and a General Election was called on 22 May 1968. In the election, the party was soundly defeated winning only 10 of 40 seats by the, conservative, United Bermuda Party which was founded in 1964. During the election, the party's leader, Walter Robinson, was defeated in his constituency and power was handed over to Lois Browne-Evans. Lois Browne-Evans became the first female Opposition Leader in the British Commonwealth. In subsequent elections, the PLP slowly expanded its share of Parliament. In the General Election, of 1972, the PLP increased its share of the popular vote from 33 per cent to 38 per cent. The Party again contested every constituency. With the successful re-election of Walter Robinson, Lois Browne-Evans yielded the leadership of the Party back to him. The Party retained ten seats in Parliament. In April 1976, Mr. Robinson retired from active politics later becoming a Puisne Judge, and Mrs. Browne-Evans became the Parliamentary Leader of the PLP for the second time and also the Opposition Leader once again. The in the 1980 General Election, the Party ran forty candidates and won eighteen seats and 46% of the votes cast, just three short of the number needed for victory. There was steady progress until 1983, where it began a noticeable slide. In 1983, the Party had to fight a snap General Election. Once again, the Party ran forty candidates contesting every seat. The PLP lost four seats in this election, gaining only 43.4% of the votes cast. Another snap General Election was called in November 1985. A small, but determined PLP contested eighteen of the twenty constituencies, offering 30 candidates. The party had been gripped in the legacy of a severe split between a group led by veteran parliamentarian Gilbert Darrell and those loyal to Party Leader Lois Browne-Evans. This division results in a group being expelled from the Party. The party split had affected the electorate and this was reflected in the Party's further loss of seats and only 31% of the votes cast. The Party finishes election night dessimated with only seven seats. Lois Browne-Evans steps down as Party Leader. At the special Delegates Conference, convened 72 hours after this election, Deputy Leader, Mr. L. Frederick Wade became the PLP's fourth Party Leader with Mr. Walter Roberts as the new Deputy Leader. New Party Leader, L. Frederick Wade, committed the Party to a period of rebuilding and the reversal experienced in the pervious elections. A rejuvenated PLP was ready for the General Election of 1989. The Party contested all twenty constituencies and regained eight seats to increase the number of PLP representatives to fifteen and an increase of 37% of the votes cast. The process of rebuilding continued with the Party regaining the confidence of its supporters and building new bridges with the electorate. Party Leader, L. Frederick Wade also began making inroads with the business community. When the General Election was called for October 1993, Party Leader L. Frederick Wade led a well prepared PLP to the polls. The Party contested all twenty constituencies and gained three seats to increase the number of PLP representatives to eighteen. In this election the Party once again approached the threshold of victory with 46.7% of the votes cast. The PLP was out of the wilderness. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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