One Love Party

The One Love Party was founded in Hackney, London by Ankit Love and his friend from Cambridge University, Finn Grant.{{Cite news|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/were-not-politicians-were-revolutionaries-11150149|title='We're revolutionaries and we're going to win' - One Love Party|last=Joshi|first=Amita|date=7 April 2016|newspaper=Get West London|access-date=19 October 2016|publisher=Trinity Mirror}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/reportage-2/ankit-love-revolutionary-royal-london-mayoral-candidate-youve-never-heard/|title=The unknown revolutionary royal who wants to be London's next Mayor|last=Andrei|first=Thomas|date=5 May 2016|newspaper=Huck Magazine|access-date=20 October 2016|language=en-US|quote=Weigel likens Ankit to that character who steals every scene in a sitcom, the guy the studio audience cheers for whenever he opens the door. It’s a pretty solid endorsement, of his character at least.}} The party was set up in a dormitory room at a youth hostel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ankit-love-one-love-party-london-mayor-candidate/|title=Meet the Millennial Mayoral Candidate Who's Going to Legalise Weed and Solve the Housing Crisis|last=Noble|first=Tim|date=4 May 2016|work=Vice|access-date=21 July 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/ankit-love-london-electio_n_9819070|title=Meet Ankit Love, The 32-Year-Old 'Maharaja Of Jammu & Kashmir' Running For London Mayor|last=Bose|first=Adrija|date=2 May 2016|website=Huffington Post|access-date=20 October 2016}}

The One Love Party was registered with the Electoral Commission on 12 October 2015. In 2016, Pax Brown became the party's general-secretary.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/mayoral_candidate_drew_up_manifesto_while_homeless_and_living_in_hackney_hostel_1_4521460|title=Mayoral candidate drew up manifesto while homeless and living in Hackney hostel|last=Bartholomew|first=Emma|date=4 May 2016|newspaper=Hackney Gazette|access-date=19 October 2016}}

In May 2016, Love stood in the London mayoral election{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/05/from-pints-to-propaganda-its-the-london-mayoral-election-awards|title=From pints to propaganda... it's the London mayoral election awards|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=5 May 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=20 October 2016|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} and was the youngest candidate to do so. His campaign focussed on London's housing crisis and air pollution in the capital.{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/europe/uk/uk-elections/kashmiri-maharajah-bidding-to-be-london-mayor-1.1818904|title=Kashmiri 'Maharajah' bidding to be London mayor|last=Downer|first=Martin|date=4 May 2016|newspaper=Gulf News|access-date=20 October 2016}} Love, who was technically homeless during the campaign, claimed not to have spent more than "a couple of thousand" pounds on the campaign. Nevertheless, Love had almost twice as many Facebook followers as the campaign's frontrunners, Sadiq Khan (Labour) and Zac Goldsmith (Conservative). Love came last with 4,941 first preference votes (0.2%).{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2016/london/results|title=London Mayor and Assembly 2016 election results|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=18 July 2018}}

Love subsequently stood for the party in the Tooting by-election, which was called after Khan, the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP), was elected as Mayor of London. During the election campaign, Love released a rap video depicting a map in which the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is an independent country; such representations are illegal under Indian law.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/14556419._Only_God_can_judge_me___One_Love_candidate_releases_rap_video_as_he_pledges_to_fight_for_cleaner_air/|title='Only God can judge me': One Love candidate releases rap video as he pledges to fight for cleaner air|last=Taylor|first=Rebecca|date=15 June 2016|website=Wandsworth Guardian|access-date=19 October 2016|quote=The video shows him performing, against images of a map of an independent Sovereign State of Jammu-Kashmir, which could land Mr Love in prison, as images showing this as a separate nation are now against Indian law}} Love obtained 32 votes (0.1%), coming 10th out of 14 candidates.

On 15 September 2016, the party achieved its best electoral result by vote share: French artist Dawa Ma won 494 first-preference votes (1.5%) in the Hackney mayoral by-election, campaigning for a second referendum on the UK's membership in the European Union.

Love stood in the Batley and Spen by-election on 20 October 2016.{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/3309/election/373 |access-date=26 August 2023 |title=Batley and Spen - 20 October 2016 By-election |website=members.parliament.uk}} Love wanted to unite Britain on the air pollution issue, claiming that it would kill 200,000 people in the UK over the next five years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepressnews.co.uk/press-news/love-candidate-contest-poll/|title='Love' candidate to contest poll|date=2016-07-22|website=The Press News|access-date=2016-10-19|quote="He claimed to be standing in memory of Mrs Cox with the aim of uniting the public on air pollution... he claimed that air pollution will kill 200,000 people in Britain over the next five years."}} He came last with 34 votes (0.2%).

Emilia Rose Arnò stood for the One Love Party in the Witney by-election, which took place on the same day as the Batley and Spen by-election. Arnò's campaign called for emergency action on air pollution and better youth enfranchisement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-37489444|title=Witney by-election: The candidates|date=2016-10-05|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=2016-10-19|language=en-GB|quote=Ms Arno says she felt "it was about time that the youth have an official political platform from which to express their views and get their voices heard"... It campaigns strongly for emergency action to deal with what it calls the air pollution pandemic.}} She came second to last with 44 votes (0.1%).

Love stood in the Richmond Park by-election on 1 December 2016, using the title of Maharaja Jammu and Kashmir, with plans to reunite India and Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/a-dogra-bids-to-make-it-in-uk-politics-again/story-Nj728TNlFVH6C7SjG2kEmM.html|title=A Dogra bids to make it in UK politics – again|date=November 2016|website=Hindustan Times|publisher=Prasun Sonwalkar|access-date=1 November 2016|quote="He has plans for peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the reunification of India and Pakistan."}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/british-kashmiri-to-stand-for-uk-by-election-1616940|title=British Kashmiri To Stand For UK By-Election|date=1 November 2016|newspaper=NDTV|access-date=2017-01-15}} His vote total of 67 represented 0.1% of those voting. He came seventh out of eight candidates.

In August 2017, Ankit Love and his father Prof. Bhim Singh endured a gun battle after being ambushed by militants in Kashmir valley,{{Cite web |title=Ankit Love and Prof. Bhim Attacked By Al-Qaeda Terrorists in Kashmir |url=https://www.5dariyanews.com/news/202219-Ankit-Love-and-Prof-Bhim-Attacked-By-Al-Qaeda-Terrorists-in-Kashmir |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=5 Dariya News}} during the ongoing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.

The One Love Party was statutorily deregistered with the Electoral Commission on 19 December 2017.

Love stood as an independent in the 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, under the name "Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India", getting 34 votes, and also stood under the same name in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, two weeks later, getting 27 votes.{{cite web |title=Rutherglen and Hamilton West By-election results |url=https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200237/elections/2183/rutherglen_and_hamilton_west_by-election_results |website=South Lanarkshire Council |date=5 October 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Folrrest |first1=Adam |title=Full results for Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth as Labour by-election wins smash records |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/byelection-results-full-midbedfordshire-tamworth-b2432968.html |work=The Independent |date=20 October 2023}}

Love stood as an independent under the name "Ankit Love Jknpp Jay Mala Post-Mortem" in the 2024 Wellingborough by-election, getting 18 votes.File:Uk-crown-court-order.jpg order against the Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth office to address whether Jammu and Kashmir is recognised as a state]]

In 2022, Ankit Love asserted in Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom, that he was the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and had judge Griffith issue a court order against the Secretary of State to provide under Section 21 of the State Immunity 1978 Act a certificate to address whether Jammu and Kashmir is recognised as a state.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-14 |title=Bhim Singh's son claims sovereignty over J&K. A UK court is hearing his case |url=https://www.thedispatch.in/bhim-singhs-son-claims-sovereignty-over-jk-a-uk-court-is-hearing-his-case/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Krishnankutty |first=Pia |date=2022-12-16 |title=House of Yolk — J&K leader's son seeks diplomatic immunity as 'Kashmir Maharaja' in UK egging case |url=https://theprint.in/world/house-of-yolk-jk-leaders-son-seeks-diplomatic-immunity-as-kashmir-maharaja-in-uk-egging-case/1266495/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}

The party described itself as "techno-progressive".{{Cite news|url=https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/09/05/dawa-ma-one-love-candidate-hackney-mayoral-election/|title=Meet the candidates for Hackney Mayor: Dawa Ma, One Love|last=Loeb|first=Josh|date=9 May 2016|work=Hackney Citizen|access-date=19 October 2016}}

The party proposed legalising, licensing and taxing drugs such as cannabis in the hope of ending the war on drugs and reducing violent crime.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenationalstudent.com/National/2016-05-04/free_university_and_legal_drugs_meet_ankit_love_the_london_mayoral_candidate_you_ve_never_heard_of.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506010301/http://www.thenationalstudent.com/National/2016-05-04/free_university_and_legal_drugs_meet_ankit_love_the_london_mayoral_candidate_you_ve_never_heard_of.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2016|title=Free university and legal drugs: meet Ankit Love, the London mayoral candidate you've never heard of|last=Miller|first=Lucy|date=4 May 2016|work=The National Student|access-date=20 October 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.oneloveparty.eu/end-war-on-drugs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002124215/http://www.oneloveparty.eu/end-war-on-drugs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2016|title=End War on Drugs|website=One Love Party|access-date=20 October 2016}} Love claimed that the prohibition of drugs "was originally based on racism, and it funds all the criminal activity in our society." During the London mayoral campaign, it proposed to do this through municipality-owned licensed dispensaries.{{Cite news|url=http://europe.newsweek.com/mayor-london-polish-prince-ankit-love-456864?rm=eu|title=What's it like to run for Mayor of London?|last=Lowe|first=Josh|date=6 May 2016|work=Newsweek|access-date=20 July 2018}}

The party called for a vote on the final Brexit deal, which would have enfranchised citizens of the European Union resident in the United Kingdom and 16- and 17-year-olds. Because EU citizens could not vote in it, the party claimed that the Brexit referendum was illegal, violating the Lisbon Treaty and the European Convention on Human Rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/detail.php?communityid=487|title=NPP Chief appeals Hackney electorate to vote One Love Party in Mayor By-Election|date=9 September 2016|website=Pakistan Christian Post|access-date=21 October 2016}}

During the London mayoral election campaign, the party endorsed Terry Farrell's proposal to build six new bridges across the River Thames in order to boost the regeneration of East London and provide 47,000 homes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.riverthamesnews.com/News934.html|title=One Love Party candidate Ankit Love's policies for the Thames|website=River Thames News|access-date=18 June 2018}} The party also pledged to introduce "discount travel cards for Londoners"{{Cite news|url=https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/what-11-things-one-love-11172808|title=Mayoral elections: 11 things the One Love Party want to change|last=Joshi|first=Amita|date=14 April 2016|work=getwestlondon|access-date=18 July 2018}} and make higher education free for London residents up to PhD level.

During the Tooting by-election campaign, Love favoured bringing the Crossrail 2 line through Tooting Broadway and voiced his opposition to HS2.

The One Love Party's priority issue was air pollution. It campaigned for immediate emergency action to bring fossil fuel emissions to zero by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and Royal Prerogative to force all power production, shipping, aviation and automobile companies to convert to only clean energy sources. The party pledged to ban all cars except electric and hydrogen vehicles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2016/10/26/hackney-central-masterplan-resurrecting-hackney-brook-ideas-feedback/|title=Reborn river among weird and wonderful ideas as council invites masterplan feedback|last1=Loeb|first1=Josh|last2=Schöffmann|first2=Katharina|date=26 October 2016|website=Hackney Citizen|access-date=11 November 2016|last3=Eckersley|first3=Max}} Love had previously called for the army to organise a military coup d'état and overthrow David Cameron, then the Prime Minister, on the issue of air pollution.

During the London mayoral election campaign, the party called for a ban on all fossil fuel emissions vehicles from the capital. Love called for the city's cycle superhighways to be suspended from the railway network. The party would have converted all water vessels from bunker fuel to hydrogen fuel, solar or SkySails. The party also pledged to increase the use of driverless electric vehicles, reduce the cost of installing solar panels in residential homes, adopt electric and hydrogen-powered buses, scrap the Garden Bridge project, cancel the Silvertown tunnel project, revive the Thames' eel population and investigate the potential of new moorings. Love also called for adverts for cars to be banned in the same way as adverts for cigarettes. During the Hackney mayoral by-election campaign, the party called for a monument to remember the victims of air pollution akin to a war memorial.

In agreement with its techno-progressive philosophy, the party supported the expansion of drones, driverless cars, robotic technology and artificial intelligence, stating that these would make more efficient use of scarce resources even if they increased unemployment.

The One Love Party believed in an accelerated program of space exploration, including the colonisation of Mars and Venus and the mining of asteroids to mitigate economic scarcity.

They had pledged to establish a London municipal space program to detect unknown asteroids on a collision course with Earth.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/31007/1/the-ex-mtv-sensation-aiming-to-be-london-s-pro-weed-mayor|title=The ex-MTV sensation aiming to be London's pro-weed mayor|last=Kirkinis|first=Andreas|date=5 May 2016|work=Dazed|access-date=20 July 2018}}

By applying robotic technology and artificial intelligence, the party wished to abolish personal income taxes and introduce a universal basic income for all citizens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oneloveparty.eu/manifesto/|title=Manifesto|website=One Love Party|access-date=20 October 2016}} During the London mayoral election campaign, the party pledged to introduce Li-Fi networks{{Cite news|url=http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/9249-2/|title=MAYORAL ELECTION: candidates for UKIP and the One Love party layout their plans for London - Southwark News|date=4 May 2016|newspaper=Southwark News|access-date=18 July 2018|language=en-GB}} and use maintenance drones to oversee roadworks and street and building repairs. Love said that he wanted London to be the first major city "to have driverless cars on an everyday basis."

Notes

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References

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Category:Political parties established in 2015

Category:Political parties disestablished in 2017

Category:Civil liberties advocacy groups

Category:Defunct political parties in the United Kingdom

Category:Environmentalism in the United Kingdom

Category:Love

Category:Political parties supporting universal basic income

Category:Progressive parties

Category:2015 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:2017 disestablishments in the United Kingdom