Britannica, also known as the Britannica Party, was a far-right[1][2][3] political party, led by Charles Baillie, the former organiser of the British National Party's Glasgow branch. It was first registered in August 2011.[4]

Britannica Party
LeaderCharles Baillie
Founded18 August 2011 (2011-08-18)
Dissolved5 November 2020
Split fromBritish National Party (Glasgow branch)
Headquarters7 Craigton Cottages
Lower Craigton
Milngavie
G62 7HQ
Ideology • British nationalism
 • National conservatism
 • Social conservatism
 • Right-wing populism
 • Euroscepticism
 • Anti-capitalism
 • Anti-communism
 • Antisemitism
Political positionFar-right
Colours  Red   White   Blue
  Black (customary)
Website
http://britannicaparty.blogspot.com/

The party was formed by Baillie when he, along with other leading members of the BNP in Scotland, was expelled for plotting against the then party leader, Nick Griffin. It is, in essence, the core of the BNP Glasgow branch, including Max Dunbar (treasurer and former treasurer of BNP Glasgow), Jean Douglas and Martin Clark. John Robertson, the BNP "security officer" for the Highlands & Islands, was also a member.[3][5]

The party has been mostly inactive since 2014, and was de-registered as a political party in November 2020.[4]

Electoral performance

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The party stood four candidates at the 2012 Glasgow City Council election,[2] receiving a total of 73 votes. It also stood at three council by-elections in Glasgow, in Hillhead (17 November 2011, 11 votes), Govan (10 October 2013, 19 votes) and Shettleston (5 December 2013, 31 votes).

It registered with the Electoral Commission as campaigning for a "No" vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[6][3]

The party does not appear to have grown, but its accounts were regularly filed with the Electoral Commission, showing income for 2015 and 2016 respectively of 4p and 3p, with the only expenditure in both years being the annual £50 registration fee to the Commission.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Goodwin, Matthew (19 August 2012). "The far right is fragmenting". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b Gable, Sonia (8 April 2012). "Britannica Party fields four candidates". Searchlight. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Beaton, Connor (21 June 2014). "BNP splinter joins anti-indy campaign". The Targe. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Registration summary - Britannica". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Britannica Party", Hope not Hate. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Register of permitted participants at the referendum on independence for Scotland". Electoral Commission.
  7. ^ "2015 Statement of account details - Britannica". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
    -"2016 Statement of account details - Britannica". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 April 2024.