Wessex Regionalists facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wessex Regionalists
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| Leader | Jim Gunter |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | 18 Quaker Court St John Street Thornbury Bristol |
| Membership (2021) | 21 |
| Ideology | Wessex regionalism Agrarianism |
| Colours | Sea green, red and gold |
The Wessex Regionalists is a small political party in England. It wants the area known as Wessex to have more control over its own laws and decisions. Wessex is a region in the south and south-west of England. It is named after an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
The party has taken part in a few elections in the Wessex area since it started. However, it has not yet won any seats in the UK Parliament.
Contents
The Story of the Wessex Regionalists
How the Party Began
In 1969, a nobleman called Viscount Weymouth suggested that Wessex could be a good name for tourism. He later felt that Wessex was not given the same chances as Scotland or Wales to have its own voice in government.
Lord Weymouth became the first person to run for Parliament for the Wessex Regionalists. This was in the February 1974 United Kingdom general election. He ran in the Westbury area.
The party officially started in 1981. At first, they said Wessex included Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. Later, they added Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire to their definition of Wessex.
Party Leaders and Changes
Lord Weymouth was the first president of the party. He later joined another political party called the Liberal Democrats. Other leaders have included John Banks and Colin Bex.
In 2013, a local council member named David C Fox changed his party from Liberal Democrat to Wessex Regionalist for a short time.
During the 2016 vote on whether the UK should stay in the European Union, the party's president at the time, Colin Bex, wanted the UK to leave. In 2017, the party leader Jim Gunter suggested a second public vote on the issue.
What the Wessex Regionalists Believe In
The Wessex Regionalists want to create a special assembly for the Wessex region. This assembly would make decisions for the area. They believe this assembly would take power from the main UK Parliament in Westminster. It would not take power from local councils.
Defining Wessex
The party says Wessex includes the counties of Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. This area is similar to the South West of England. However, it also includes parts of the South East.
The party does not include Cornwall in its definition of Wessex. They believe Cornwall has its own special identity and its own political party.
Wessex Culture and Traditions
The party believes that Wessex has its own unique culture. They want to help protect and promote this culture. This includes things like Morris dancing, cider, and the works of local writers.
The party has also called for better protection of local food and drinks. They also want to protect what they call the "Wessex dialect," which is a way of speaking in the region.
Images for kids
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The logo of the Wessex Regionalists party.
