About
A Brief History of thePeople's National Party (UK)
The People’s National Party UK (PNPUK) is a transplant of the People’s National Party in Jamaica; and as such is an organisation created by a migratory company of Jamaicans for whom a political party was an aspect of cultural identity alongside other aspects such as church attendance, musical and dietary distinctions, which they felt the compulsive need to establish in the UK.
Although the early Windrush generation of Jamaicans became participants in the British Labour Party and trade unions, those who wanted to become ‘activists’ with representational responsibilities linked to political issues and needs of Jamaica as a sending country.
Jamaica Progressive League
The arrival of West Indians in Britain, with the status of British citizens (before the 1960s acquisitions of independence) did not obstruct their political identification with political developments in their respective West Indian (ie English speaking) countries; and by 1970, there were political groups linked to different countries. By mid 1960s Jamaicans organised a political group; adopting the name: The Jamaica Progressive League, a defunct 1930s political organisation in Jamaica.
The People’s National Party UK
During the mid 1960s, Cde Michael Manley was in the UK and accepted an invitation to speak at a meeting of the Progressive League; but discovered that the leadership and membership were former PNP members before migrating to Britain. The follow-up engagement between Manley and the group was solidify the group’s statutory relationship to the PNP, and this required a reciprocal relationship between Jamaica and the group in the UK. The Proposal was that:
- The group adopt the name The People's National Party (UK) and discontinue using the Progressive League
- The PNPUK to have affiliate status to the party in Jamaica; pay an annual membership fee; send reports to annual conferences; have a PNPUK representative on the party's National Executive Council; and have delegates and rights to vote in elections of officers to the party's leadership.
The reciprocal responsibilities of the PNPUK were to:
- Pay the annual fee for the membership of the PNP to Socialist International.
- Represent the PNP at annual conferences and other events of the Labour Party.
Michael Manley
The People’s National Party UK
The PNPUK was launched in 1969 and Structured on the GROUP SYSTEM whereby the membership was the ultimate authority at National and GROUP levels.
By 1970, the PNPUK consisted of a group in Bristol, Walsall, Birmingham, and 4 groups in London – Brent, Lewisham, Hackney, and Wandsworth; and cohesion as an actual network of groups was maintained by:
- A National Executive, and groups having their respective communities.
- Membership and adherence to a constitution.
- Accountability based on annual reports, elections at national and local/group levels.
The group system was discontinued and replaced with a single-tier governance and membership arrangement.
Norman Washington Manley
Measurement of Success
The PNPUK achieved successes which, although difficult to apply measurements, have had successful OUTCOMES in terms of:
- An organisational longevity of attending meetings and conferences, both in the UK and Jamaica, in representational capacities.
- Fundraising to support candidates in elections; and send funds for emergency medical needs for children in Jamaica.
- Having a focus on political education for the development of individual and group skill for political awareness; and for individuals to aspire to positions of political appointments in Jamaica; and from the 1970s, individuals have been recruited to the leadership of trade union; representative of the PNPUK on the National Executive Council; staff in the PNP’S headquarters to member of parliament; and other positions.
