The Liberal Party of Gibraltar (Libs or LPG) is a liberal political party in Gibraltar. It was founded in 1991 as the Gibraltar National Party and is led by Dr. Joseph Garcia. The LPG forms the GSLP–Liberal Alliance in partnership with the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party.
Policy In line with most liberal parties, the party describes their political philosophy as being based on notions of people deciding their own future, and are committed to Gibraltarian self-determination regarding constitutional arrangements.
The party believes in
The party makes its stance on economic policy very clear, stating that
Elections
In the 1992 election to the Gibraltar House of Assembly, the party (as the GNP) won 4.7%% of the popular vote and no seats.
In the 1996 election the GNP won 4.68% of the popular vote and no seats.
In the 1999 by-election, following the death of GSLP Opposition MP Robert Mor, Liberal Party leader Dr. Joseph Garcia won 51.46% of the popular vote and the seat. He was the first joint GSLP/Liberal candidate to contest an election.
In the 2000 election the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.95% of the popular vote and 2 seats.
In the 2003 election the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.61% of the popular vote and 2 seats.
In the 2007 election to the newly named (and re-organized) Gibraltar Parliament, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 13.65% of the popular vote and 3 seats.
In the 2011 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.64% of the popular vote and 3 seats forming the new Government of Gibraltar.
In the 2013 by-election, following the death of Housing Minister Charles Bruzon (GSLP), the Liberal Party backed the GSLP candidate Albert Isola, who has won 49.84% of the popular vote to fill in the vacant seat.
In the 2015 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 20.61% of the popular vote and retained their 3 seats.
In the 2019 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 15.5% of the popular vote and retained their 3 seats. At the election, Liberal MP & Minister, Neil Costa, stood down for re-election. His seat was retained by fellow party member, Vijay Daryanani, whom he became Gibraltar's first MP from the local Hindu community.
In the heavily contested 2023 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.6% of the popular vote. However, they lost one of their 3 seats to the sole contesting GSD opposition party. This resulted in the Party's new MP, Vijay Daryanani, losing his seat after only serving one term in office as Minister.
Election results Parliament of Gibraltar Election Votes % Seats +/– Government 1992 2,158 4.7 1996 5,932 4.68 2000 17,286 14.95 1 2003 16,538 14.61 2007 21,120 13.65 1 2011 25,590 14.64 2015 30,399 20.61 2019 24,546 15.50 2023 26,241 14.60 1
By-elections Election Votes % Seats +/– 1999 4,395 51.47 1
European Parliament Gibraltar was part of the South West England constituency in the European parliament and its major parties formed joint ticket alliances with the major UK parties. From 2004 until Brexit, the Liberal Party of Gibraltar was in an alliance with the Liberal Democrats.
Election Party SW England Gibraltar Seats +/– Votes % Votes % 2004 265,619 18.3 905 7.6 2009 266,253 17.2 1,269 18.2 2014 160,376 10.7 4,822 67.2 1 2019 385,095 23.2 7,270 77.4 2
Affiliations The Liberal Party of Gibraltar is a member of the Liberal InternationalFull members of the Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, having joined the latter in November 2014. It is also a 'Sister Party' of the United Kingdom Liberal Democrats and contested the South-West England constituency at European Parliamentary elections on a joint ticket with them taking place six on the party list.
Current LPG MPs Joseph Garcia (since 1999) Leslie Bruzon (since 2023)
See also Liberal parties by country List of major liberal parties considered left
References
External links Official website Former official website