Make Politicians History

The group originated in the 1980s as the Rainbow Alliance of several small groups, founded and led by Rainbow George Weiss, which Weiss says was after he was contacted by "an extraterrestrial soulmate called Sterling Silver".{{cite news|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/whatson/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=whatsonfoodanddrink&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatson&itemid=WeED03%20Feb%202006%2015%3A34%3A26%3A163|title=Out to lunch: Still searching for pot of gold at rainbow's end|last=Martin|first=Geoff|date=3 February 2006|work=Ham & High|accessdate=20 February 2010}} It stood a variety of candidates, often on frivolous platforms. The first candidate was Weiss in the 1984 Enfield Southgate by-election; Michael Portillo won and Weiss polled 48 votes.{{cite journal|last=Byrne|first=Matt|date=June 2001|title=Over the Rainbow|journal=Fortnight|publisher=Fortnight Publications Ltd.|volume=396|issue=396|pages=8|jstor=25560286}} In the Hampstead and Highgate constituency at the 1992 general election, they stood three candidates.[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/1983LB.html United Kingdom Parliamentary Election results 1983-97: London Boroughs] Some minor celebrities such as Cynthia Payne,[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027100639/http://geocities.com/byelections90/kensington88/Payne.html Payne], British Parliamentary By Elections Liza Duke and Malcolm Hardee stood for the group."[https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,1405432,00.html Obituaries: Malcolm Hardee]", Guardian Unlimited, 4 February 2005

The renamed Rainbow Dream Ticket stood 31 candidates in the 1997 general election, polling 4,104 votes.{{Cite journal |last=Morgan |first=Bryan |date=2001-03-29 |title=General Election results, 1 May 1997 |url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf |journal=Research Paper |volume=01 |issue=38 |issn=1368-8456 |via=House of Commons Library}} As Vote For Yourself Dream Ticket the party stood Weiss as its candidate in all four Belfast seats in the 2001 general election, pledging to rename Britain and Ireland as the "Emerald Rainbow Isles", to replace the currency with the "Wonder", made up of 100 "gasps", to make utilities, healthcare and education free, and to cancel all debt.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/northern_ireland/newsid_1371000/1371190.stm|title=Rainbow George's manifesto|date=5 June 2001|work=BBC News|accessdate=20 February 2010}}

They then stood three candidates in the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3223702.stm|title=Vote For Yourself manifesto|date=20 November 2003|work=BBC News|accessdate=20 February 2010}} receiving a total of 124 votes.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/northern_ireland/map/html/default.stm|title=Vote 2003 Northern Ireland results|work=BBC News|accessdate=20 February 2010}}

The party put up candidates in 23 constituencies in the 2005 general election, six in Northern Ireland, four in Cardiff and thirteen in London.[http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge05/cand/dream.htm UK general election 2005: list of candidates] Among the party's candidates was David Kerr, a former member of the National Front, a member of Ulster Third Way,{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10721284.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103043416/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10721284.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2012|title=Call for ex-NF man to pull out of poll|last=Hutton|first=Brian|date=3 May 2005|work=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=20 February 2010}} and editor of Ulster Nation,[http://www.ulsternation.org.uk/ulster_comment.htm Ulster comment], Ulster Nation and Lynda Gilby, a Belfast journalist.{{cite news|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2005/0422/ireland/party-backs-belfast-olympics-199342.html|title=Party backs Belfast Olympics|date=22 April 2005|work=BreakingNews|accessdate=20 February 2010|location=Ireland}} They came last or second-last in every seat in which they stood.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} Weiss stood in 13 London seats, receiving a total of 1,289 votes.{{cite book|last=Rallings|first=Colin|author2=Michael Thrasher|title=British electoral facts, 1832-2006|publisher=Ashgate Publication, Ltd.|year=2007|edition=7|isbn=978-0-7546-2712-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4WiQATMuPEC&pg=RA1-PA292}} In the Cardiff North constituency, candidate Catherine Taylor-Dawson, a singer-songwriter, received only one vote, thus setting a new record for the lowest vote for any parliamentary candidate under universal suffrage. The single vote was not cast by Taylor-Dawson, as she was not registered to vote in that constituency."[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/wales/4523583.stm Singing candidate polls one vote]", BBC News, 6 May 2005

The party was renamed Make Politicians History on 26 September 2005, led by Ronnie Carroll.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/benn-finds-the-answer-to-all-iraqs-problems--a-spin-doctor-512437.html|title=Benn finds the answer to all Iraq's problems - a spin doctor|last=Marre|first=Oliver|date=25 October 2005|work=The Independent|accessdate=20 February 2010}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The first action was to announce in January 2006 a referendum fronted by snooker player Alex Higgins, in which postcards were sent to all residents in Belfast calling for the city to be renamed "Best" and made self-governing.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/20060127.html|title=Interview with Alex Higgins|date=27 January 2006|work=The Late Late Show|publisher=RTÉ One|accessdate=20 February 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jan/17/northernireland.northernireland|title=A Hurricane heads for Stormont|last=Chrisafis|first=Angelique|date=17 January 2006|work=The Guardian|accessdate=20 February 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-141960191|title=The Secret Madness of King George|last=Edgar|first=Gail|date=12 February 2006|work=People|accessdate=20 February 2010}} The party wanted Ulster residents to make decisions issue by issue through an electronic voting system.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/A-little-light-relief-for.2140242.jp|title=A little light relief for Parliament buildings?|date=22 March 2007|work=News Letter|accessdate=20 February 2010|location=Belfast}} The party released a music CD, Let's Tick Together, in May 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=25461&hilite=|title=Rainbow George Makes Music To Make Politicians History|date=16 May 2006|work=Press release|accessdate=20 February 2010}} Weiss stood in the four Belfast constituencies in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in 2007,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6362335.stm|title=Political vision of wonder city|date=14 February 2007|work=BBC News|accessdate=20 February 2010}} receiving a sixth preference vote from Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.{{Cite web |last=Election07 |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 07 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/election07/2007/03/10 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}} Ronnie Carroll stood in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, and received 29 votes.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7498330.stm|title=A record-breaking by-election?|date=11 July 2008|work=BBC News|accessdate=20 February 2010}} A "Brand Spanking New London Party" with Russell Brand as its candidate for Mayor of London was announced, but did not stand.{{cite news|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2007/10/21/5938/brand_for_mayor|title=Brand for mayor|date=21 October 2007|work=Chortle|accessdate=20 February 2010}}

{{quote box|width=20%|align=right|quote="I have been so impressed with what I have heard and seen from your politicians on the news in the last week or two, I see no need for the party anymore."|source=Weiss in April 2009}}

The party was disbanded in April 2009, reportedly due to Weiss being impressed at the progress of the Northern Ireland peace process after the Massereene Barracks shooting,{{cite news|url=http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Make-Politicians-History--is.5125447.jp|title=Make Politicians History - is history|date=1 April 2009|work=Derry Journal|accessdate=20 February 2010}} and it was deregistered on 8 June 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/63167/Renamed-or-Deregistered-Parties.pdf|title=List of Political Parties either renamed or deregistered since 2002|work=Electoral Commission|accessdate=11 February 2010|archive-date=6 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206030211/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/63167/Renamed-or-Deregistered-Parties.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thelondondailynews.com/spare-though-rainbow-george-weiss-%C2%A3500-demand-from-electoral-commission-p-2985.html?osCsid=a4hrm4d3i7he1kdh6fup5shrp0|title=Spare a thought for "Rainbow" George Weiss £500 demand from Electoral Commission|date=27 May 2009|work=London Daily News|accessdate=20 February 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717012427/http://www.thelondondailynews.com/spare-though-rainbow-george-weiss-%C2%A3500-demand-from-electoral-commission-p-2985.html?osCsid=a4hrm4d3i7he1kdh6fup5shrp0|archivedate=17 July 2011}}

• Make Politicians History election results

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.xat.org/ www.xat.org]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJSQ-oDZE1U Party election broadcast 2007]

Category:Political parties established in 1984

Category:Defunct political parties in the United Kingdom

Category:Direct democracy parties

Category:Political parties disestablished in 2009

Category:1984 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:2009 disestablishments in the United Kingdom