Veritas (political party)

Veritas
FounderRobert Kilroy-Silk
Founded2 February 2005
Dissolved14 June 2015
Split fromUKIP
Merged intoEnglish Democrats
HeadquartersLondon
Membership1,100
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing
National affiliationAlliance for Democracy (2010)
Colours  Purple

Veritas (Latin: truth) was a right-wing, eurosceptic political party in the United Kingdom, launched in June 2005 by Robert Kilroy-Silk, following a split with the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Kilroy-Silk served as party leader through the 2005 General Election, and was succeeded by Patrick Eston, who resigned in 2008 citing frustrations of his efforts to reform the party. The party merged into the English Democrats in 2015.

Veritas had no representation in Parliament, although Kilroy-Silk sat in the European Parliament, and the party had two London Assembly members, elected as UKIP candidates and defecting upon Veritas' formation.

History

Background

Robert Kilroy-Silk, a former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and television presenter, was elected as a UKIP Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in the 2004 European Parliament election for the East Midlands region.[3] In October 2004, Kilroy-Silk expressed his ambition to lead UKIP, and criticised party leader Roger Knapman.[4] To avoid disciplinary action from other UKIP MEPs, Kilroy-Silk resigned the party whip, while remaining a member and asserting his continued challenge.[5] The plan ultimately failed, and he eventually resigned from UKIP on 20 January 2005, with it being widely speculated that he would set up a party of his own, called 'Veritas' (Latin for "truth").[6][7]

Establishment

Veritas was officially founded at a press conference on 2 February 2005, during which Kilroy-Silk proclaimed "unlike the old parties, we shall be honest, open and straight", devoid of the other parties' "lies and spin".[8][9] He also confirmed that the new party had seven branches and 250 members.[10] There were a number of defections to the new party, including both UKIP London Assembly members, Damian Hockney, who became Veritas deputy leader, and Peter Hulme-Cross.[11]

The party was immediately lambasted as nothing more than a vanity vehicle for Kilroy-Silk, and was nicknamed "Vanitas" by former allies.[12] Anthony Bennett, whose name was listed by the Electoral Commission as the party's leader, was linked to a former chairman of the National Front.[13]

When the party launched its election manifesto in June 2005, its primary policy was leaving the European Union,[14] and it was perceived to be more specific than UKIP's general euroscepticism, almost to the point of Veritas being labelled a single-issue party.[15] It also called for strict immigration controls, a 22% flat rate of income tax, tougher sentences for crime and anti-social behaviour, and the eviction of travellers from illegal sites.[16]

The manifesto was described as "a mix of English nationalism, Old Labour big-strategy socialism and traditional liberal values".[17]

2005 general election

At the 2005 general election Veritas had hoped to overtake UKIP as the primary party opposing the European Union. Prior to the election, The Times newspaper had reported that Veritas had 120 candidates, and planned to stand in every constituency across Great Britain.[18] The party ended up fielding 65 candidates in England and Wales, receiving a total of 40,481 votes (0.1%).[19][3]

Kilroy-Silk contested the constituency of Erewash in Derbyshire. He came fourth with 2,957 votes (5.8%); Liz Blackman was elected for Labour with 22,472. No Veritas candidates were elected; Kilroy-Silk was the only one to save his deposit.[20]

In the subsequent Cheadle by-election held on 14 July 2005 the Veritas candidate polled 218 votes (0.6%).[21]

Aftermath of 2005 general election

In the wake of the poor showing in the general election, some discontented party members came to oppose Kilroy-Silk and formed the Veritas Members Association (VMA). One of its founders, Ken Wharton, challenged Kilroy-Silk for the leadership on 12 July 2005, during the Cheadle by-election campaign but his challenge faltered due to ill health.[22][23]

Kilroy-Silk resigned as party leader on 29 July 2005.[20][24] In a press statement he said:

"It was clear from the general election result – and more recently that of the Cheadle by-election – that the electors are content with the old parties and that it would be virtually impossible for a new party to make a significant impact given the nature of our electoral system. We tried and failed".[25]

Further resignations included that of his chief of staff, David Soutter, and deputy leader Damian Hockney. Hockney and Peter Hulme-Cross subsequently formed the One London party.

A leadership election was held at the party's inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 18 September 2005. Acting leader Patrick Eston defeated Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Colin Brown, and former boxer Winston McKenzie on a 22% turnout. Eston appointed a deputy, Howard Martin, who was the main Veritas Party spokesperson, and seemed determined to continue with the party, despite the depletion of the Veritas membership.

2005–2015

At the 2006 local elections, Veritas stood four candidates: two each in Kingston-upon-Hull and Bolton. In the 2007 elections, Veritas stood three candidates: two at council elections and one – Iain James Sheldon in the Mid and West Wales Region for the Welsh Assembly, who gathered 502 votes (0.2%).

On 15 June 2008, Patrick Eston announced that he could not take the Veritas Party in the direction he wanted and so would be resigning the party leadership.[26]

Therese Muchewicz, Party Secretary, served as Acting Leader until leadership elections in October 2008, and was subsequently elected as the new Party Leader.

On 18 December 2015, members of the English Democrats voted to merge with Veritas.[27]

Electoral performance

House of Commons

2005 general election results[19]
% of vote Candidate Constituency Number of votes
5.8 Robert Kilroy-Silk Erewash 2957
4.0 Colin Brown Leicester East 1666
3.6 Tony Martin City of Durham 1603
3.4 John Burdon Hemsworth 1247
3.2 Steve Wallis Hull West & Hessle 889
3.0 Patrick Eston Tamworth 1320
2.7 Michael Harvey Mansfield 1034
2.6 Jim Wright Aberavon 768
2.6 Alex Stevenson Amber Valley 1224
2.6 Sarah Hemstock Ashfield 1108
2.4 Graham Morris Hull East 750
2.4 Tony Bennett Harlow 941
2.3 Edward Spalton Derbyshire South 1272
2.2 Martin Bardoe Derby North 958
2.2 Ian Taylor Stoke-on-Trent North 689
2.1 Grant Allen Stoke-on-Trent South 1272
1.9 Brian Buxton Burton 913
1.9 John Scott Macclesfield 848
1.7 Tony Smith Poplar & Canning Town 650
1.5 Howard Martin Bedfordshire Mid 769
1.4 Barrie Wilkins Daventry 822
1.4 Frank Leeming Derby South 608
1.4 Kenneth Roseblade Leicester South 573
1.4 Duncan Shelley Rutland & Melton 696
1.4 Nick Alex Wellingborough 749
1.3 David Davis Darlington 507
1.3 Tineke Robinson Hull North 389
1.3 John McVay Loughborough 588
1.3 Marian Harvey-Lover Newcastle-under-Lyme 518
1.2 Therese Muchewicz Bradford South 421
1.2 Damian Hockney Broxtowe 590
1.2 Debbie Le May Hertford & Stortford 572
1.2 Yvonne Holley Swansea West 401
1.2 Gene Alcantara West Ham 365
1.1 David Jones Bolton South East 343
1.1 Helen Martinek Colne Valley 543
1.1 David Malindine Ealing North 495
1.1 Daniel Moss Rushcliffe 624
1.0 Alan Ainscow Bolton North East 375
1.0 Graham Dare Croydon South 497
1.0 Roger Meekins Mole Valley 507
0.9 Anne Assheton-Salton Cornwall South East 459
0.9 Deborah Johnson Gedling 411
0.9 Tony Green Northampton South 508
0.9 Carl Faulkener Rochdale 353
0.9 Trevor Hackett Saffron Walden 475
0.9 Carleton Beaman Somerset & Frome 484
0.8 Brian Greaves Barrow & Furness 306
0.7 Michael Ford Bolton West 290
0.7 Iain Sheldon Ceredigion 268
0.7 Winston McKenzie Croydon North 324
0.7 Adrian Roberts Mitcham & Moredon 286
0.6 David Harris Cities of London & Westminster 218
0.6 Alan Eastwood Cornwall North 324
0.6 Marianne Bowness Croydon Central 304
0.6 David Heather Dulwich & West Norwood 241
0.6 H Forster Southport 238
0.5 Russell Thomas Havant 195
0.5 Fiona Luckhurst-Matthews Sedgefield 218
0.5 David Cassidy Sittingbourne & Sheppey 192
0.4 David Henson Kingston & Surbiton 200
0.3 Ian Upton Bury North 476
0.3 Peter Gifford Falmouth & Camborne 128
0.3 Dave Boyle Reading West 141
0.3 Glenn Platt Surrey South West 172
– Total 65 constituencies 41272

Parliamentary by-elections

2005 Cheadle by-election results
Candidate Party Votes % Position
Leslie Leggett Veritas 218 0.6 4th

National Assembly for Wales elections

2007 National Assembly for Wales election results
Candidate Region Votes % Result
Iain Sheldon Mid and West Wales 502 0.2 Not elected

Local elections

2006 local election results
Council Candidates Votes
Hull 2 102
Bolton 2 288
2007 local election results
Council Candidates Votes
Bolton 1 74
South Bedfordshire 1 405
North Norfolk 1 59

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New anti-EU party launched in UK". aljazeera.com. 2 February 2005.
  2. ↑ "Kilroy launches 'Veritas' party". news.bbc.co.uk. 2 February 2005.
  3. 1 2 Russell, Andrew (2005). "The United Kingdom General Election of 2005". Parliamentary Affairs. 58 (2): 351. doi:10.1093/pa/gsi027.
  4. ↑ "Kilroy-Silk lays claim to the leadership of UKIP". The Independent. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kilroy quits UKIP group of MEPs". BBC News. 27 October 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Tempest, Matthew (21 January 2005). "Ukip toasts Kilroy-Silk's departure". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Usherwood, Simon (2007). The UK Independence Party: The dilemmas of a single-issue party. Political Studies Association 57th Annual Conference. Vol. 11.
  8. ↑ "Kilroy launches 'Veritas' party". BBC News. 2 February 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  9. ↑ Tempest, Matthew (2 February 2005). "Kilroy goes solo with Veritas launch". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Millar, Frank (3 February 2005). "Kilroy-Silk launches new political party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "UKIP could sue Veritas defectors". BBC News. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  12. ↑ AFP. "New anti-EU party launched in UK". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Burkeman, Oliver (3 February 2005). "Kilroy-Silk colleague linked to ex-National Front leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  14. ↑ White, Michael (15 April 2005). "Respect and Veritas pitch to poor". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Rumbelow, Helen (16 April 2005). "UKIP trumpets its claim to be the best of British". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Kilroy attacks 'liberal fascism'". BBC News. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Burns, Jimmy (14 April 2005). "Veritas stands for "traditional British freedoms"". www.ft.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Rumbelow, Helen (3 February 2005). "Kilroy Silk claims monopoly on the politics of truth". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  19. 1 2 "BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Full National Scoreboard | Results". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Kilroy quits as leader of Veritas". 29 July 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lib Dems win Cheadle by-election". 15 July 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Jeffery, Simon (12 July 2005). "Veritas turns on its creator". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Kilroy faces leadership challenge". BBC News. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  24. ↑ Tempest, Matthew (29 July 2005). "Kilroy quits as Veritas leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Default (29 July 2005). "Kilroy Silk quits Veritas". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Muchewicz, Therese (28 June 2008). "Resignation of Party Leader, Patrick Eston, June 15th 2008". Archived from the original on 17 May 2011.
  27. ↑ "Robert Kilroy-Silk's party to merge with English Democrats". BBC Local Live: Leicestershire. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
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