Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox political party | name = Jamaica Labour Party | logo = JlpLogo.png | logo_size = 200px | colorcode = #00A94C | founder = [[Alexander Bustamante]] | leader = [[Andrew Holness]] | leader1_title = Chairman | leader1_name = [[Robert Montague (Jamaican politician)|Robert Montague]] | leader2_title = General Secretary | leader2_name = [[Horace Chang]] | foundation = {{start date|df=y|1943|7|8}} | youth_wing = Young Jamaica<br/>[[Generation 2000]] | wing2_title = Women's Group | wing2 = Women's Freedom Movement (WFM) | wing3_title = Trade Union Wing | wing3 = [[Bustamante Industrial Trade Union]] | split = [[People's National Party]] | headquarters = 20 Belmont Road, [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] 5 | ideology = {{nowrap|[[Nationalism]]<ref>{{cite book|last=King|first=Cheryl L. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EO1KAwAAQBAJ|title=Michael Manley and Democratic Socialism: Political Leadership and Ideology in Jamaica|editor=Wipf and Stock Publishers|editor-link=Wipf and Stock Publishers|date=2003|page=1|isbn=9781592442348|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222118/https://books.google.it/books?id=EO1KAwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Monteith|first1=Kathleen E. A.|last2=Richards|first2=Glen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e3mdhCNLo9cC|title=Jamaica in Slavery and Freedom: History, Heritage and Culture|editor=University of the West Indies Press|editor-link=University of the West Indies Press|date=2001|pages=365–366|isbn=9789766401085|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=2018-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011007/https://books.google.it/books?id=e3mdhCNLo9cC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Austin>{{cite book|last=Austin|first=Diane J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0F7wXZK59ucC|title=Urban Life in Kingston, Jamaica: The Culture and Class Ideology of Two Neighborhoods|editor=Taylor & Francis|date=1987|page=13|isbn=9782881240065|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222128/https://books.google.it/books?id=0F7wXZK59ucC|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>[[Conservatism]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18784061|title=Jamaica country profile|newspaper=BBC|date=10 January 2018|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904125734/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18784061|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Thomason|first=Ian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gxzr-EiYNwgC|title=The Dead Yard: Tales of Modern Jamaica|editor=Faber & Faber|date=2009|page=68|isbn=9780571252343|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714221957/https://books.google.it/books?id=Gxzr-EiYNwgC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Wallace|first=Elisabeth|url=https://archive.org/details/britishcaribbean0000wall|url-access=registration|title=The British Caribbean from the Decline of Colonialism to the End of Federation|publisher=University of Toronto Press|editor=University of Toronto Press|date=1977|page=[https://archive.org/details/britishcaribbean0000wall/page/41 41]|isbn=9780802053510 }}</ref><br/>[[Fiscal conservatism]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Davidson|first=Vernon|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Holness-outlines-the-JLP-s-philosophy_18631007|title=Holness outlines the JLP's philosophy|newspaper=Jamaica Observer|date=29 March 2015|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904125734/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Holness-outlines-the-JLP-s-philosophy_18631007|url-status=live}}</ref><br />[[Republicanism in Jamaica|Republicanism]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first= Romario|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200808/pnp-vows-hold-referendum-whether-remove-queen-if-elected|title=PNP vows to hold referendum on whether to remove Queen, if elected|work=[[The Gleaner]]|date=August 8, 2020}}</ref><br/>[[Black nationalism]]<br/> '''Historically:'''<br>[[Fabianism]]<ref name=Austin/><br>[[Paternalistic conservatism]]<ref>{{cite book|editor=Leonard E. Barrett |title=The Rastafarians: Sounds of Cultural Dissonance |date=1988 |page=220 |publisher=Beacon Press |isbn=9780807010266 }}</ref>}} | position = [[Centre-right]]<ref name="KleinDay2004">{{cite book|author1=Axel Klein|author2=Marcus Day|author3=Anthony Harriott|title=Caribbean Drugs: From Criminalization to Harm Reduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KlJyez-Nr70C&pg=PA70|date=13 November 2004|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-499-1|pages=70–|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=5 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705151106/http://books.google.com/books?id=KlJyez-Nr70C&pg=PA70|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gauldie2007">{{cite book|author=Robin Gauldie|title=Jamaica|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxjKy5YZPJIC&pg=PA17|date=July 2007|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=978-1-84537-859-2|pages=17–|access-date=2016-10-18|archive-date=2014-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705151158/http://books.google.com/books?id=MxjKy5YZPJIC&pg=PA17|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>'''Historically:'''<br>[[Centrism|Centre]]<ref>{{cite book|editor=John A. Bushnell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qa1vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT388 |title=Active Diplomacy to Achieve Us Objectives 1960-1991, in Central America, Washington, Panama, and Argentina |quote= Jamaica had a leftist socialist government under the PNP [People's National Party] and Prime Minister Michael Manley until the more conservative or centrist JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] won a majority in the Congress toward the end of ... |date=2018 |publisher=[[Xlibris Corporation]] |isbn=9781984539625 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor=Gale Research Company |title=Countries of the World and Their Leaders |quote= The Jamaica Labour Party ( JLP ) is a centrist party and is loosely organized at present . |date=1977 |isbn=9780810310384 }}</ref> | international = | anthem = <div style="text-align: center;">"The JLP Anthem"<ref>{{cite web |title=The JLP Anthem |url=https://jamaicalabourparty.com/anthem |website=jamaicalabourparty.com |publisher=Jamaica Labour Party |access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref></div> | affiliation1_title = Regional affiliation | affiliation1 = [[Caribbean Democrat Union]]<br>[[West Indies Democratic Labour Party]] (1957–1961) | colors = {{color box|border=darkgray|#00A94C}} [[Green]] | seats1_title = [[House of Representatives of Jamaica|House of Representatives]] | seats1 = {{Composition bar|48|63|hex=#00A94C}} | seats2_title = [[Senate of Jamaica|Senate]] | seats2 = {{Composition bar|13|21|hex=#00A94C}} | seats3_title = [[Local Government]] | seats3 = {{Composition bar|130|227|hex=#00A94C}} | seats4_title = Parish Councils | seats4 = {{Composition bar|9|13|hex=#00A94C}} | website = {{Official URL}} | country = Jamaica }} The '''Jamaica Labour Party''' ('''JLP'''; {{lang-jam|Jumieka Lieba Paati}}) is one of the two major [[List of political parties in Jamaica|political parties in Jamaica]], the other being the [[People's National Party]] (PNP). While its name might suggest that it is a [[social democratic]] party (as is the case for "Labour" parties in several other [[Commonwealth realms]] such as [[Australian Labor Party|Australia]], [[New Zealand Labour Party|New Zealand]] and the [[Labour Party (UK)|United Kingdom]]), the JLP is actually a [[Conservatism|conservative]] party.<ref name="Green2002">{{cite book|author=Charles Green|title=Manufacturing Powerlessness in the Black Diaspora: Inner-City Youth and the New Global Frontier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HXf9AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA133|date=9 May 2002|publisher=AltaMira Press|isbn=978-0-585-38626-3|pages=133–|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=1 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001161749/https://books.google.com/books?id=HXf9AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA133|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PaprockiDolan2009">{{cite book|author1=Sherry Paprocki|author2=Sean Dolan|title=Bob Marley: Musician|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dSbYwAE6WjMC&pg=PA76|date=1 January 2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0072-2|pages=76–|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=5 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705151355/http://books.google.com/books?id=dSbYwAE6WjMC&pg=PA76|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Foner2013">{{cite book|author=Nancy Foner|title=One Out of Three: Immigrant New York in the 21st Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qDsjMHBHhsAC&pg=PT235|date=20 August 2013|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-53513-7|pages=235–|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=5 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705150101/http://books.google.com/books?id=qDsjMHBHhsAC&pg=PT235|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the current governing party, having won 49 of the 63 parliamentary seats in the lower house of parliament (House of Representatives) in the [[2020 Jamaican general election|2020 general elections]]. The JLP uses a bell, the [[victory sign]], and the colour [[green]] as electoral symbols. The JLP is a member of the [[Caribbean Democrat Union]]. == The JLP in colonial Jamaica == The party was founded on 8 July 1943 by [[Alexander Bustamante]] as the political wing of the [[Bustamante Industrial Trade Union]]. Bustamante had previously been a member of the PNP. It won the [[1944 Jamaican general election|1944 general elections]] with 22 of the 32 seats.<ref name=N1>[[Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', pp432-435 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}}</ref> It went on to win the [[1949 Jamaican general election|1949 elections]] with a reduced majority. The PNP received more votes (203,048) than the JLP (199,538), but the JLP secured more seats, 17 to the PNP's 13. Two seats were won by independents. The voter turnout was 65.2%. The JLP lost power to the PNP in the [[1955 Jamaican general election|1955 elections]]. The PNP won for the first time, securing 18 out of 32 seats. The JLP ended up with 14 seats, and there were no independents. The voter turnout was 65.1%. As a result, [[Norman Manley]] became the new chief minister.<ref>C.V. Black, ''A History of Jamaica'' (London: Collins, 1975), p. 233.</ref> The JLP remained in opposition following the [[1959 Jamaican general election]], when the number of seats was increased to 45. The PNP secured a wider margin of victory, taking 29 seats to the JLP's 16. Manley was appointed [[Jamaica]]'s first premier on 14 August 1959.<ref>Michael Burke, "Norman Manley as premier", ''Jamaica Observer, 13 August 2014 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Norman-Manley-as-premier_17349996 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927133213/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Norman-Manley-as-premier_17349996 |date=2021-09-27 }} Retrieved 10 September 2020.</ref> In the [[1961 Jamaican Federation of the West Indies membership referendum|1961 Federation membership referendum]] Jamaica voted 54% to leave the West Indies Federation. After losing the referendum, Manley took Jamaica to the polls in April 1962, to secure a mandate for the island's independence. On 10 April 1962, of the 45 seats up for contention in the [[1962 Jamaican general election]], the JLP won 26 seats and the PNP 19. The voter turnout was 72.9%.<ref>Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p. 430.</ref> This resulted in the [[independence of Jamaica]] on 6 August 1962, and several other British colonies in the West Indies followed suit in the next decade. Bustamante had replaced Manley as premier between April and August, and on independence, he became Jamaica's first prime minister. ==The JLP in independent Jamaica== Bustamante suffered a stroke in 1964 and largely withdrew from politics. However, he did not relinquish the title of party leader for another decade. [[Donald Sangster]] took over as acting prime minister after Bustamante's stroke. He was named First Deputy Leader in 1967, and led the party to victory in the 21 February [[1967 Jamaican general election]]. The JLP won 33 out of 53 seats, with the PNP taking 20 seats.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430">Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook'', Volume I, p. 430.</ref> Sangster suffered a brain hemorrhage and died about six weeks after the elections, while he was preparing for his budget presentation. [[Hugh Shearer]] succeeded Sangster as First Deputy Leader and Prime Minister, defeating David Clement (DC) Tavares by two votes in a run-off by of the JLP parliamentarians. Tavares had come out on top in the first ballot, with Shearer and Robert Lightbourne being the other candidates. Under Shearer, the JLP lost power in independent Jamaica for the first time to the [[People's National Party]] and [[Michael Manley]] in [[1972 Jamaican general election|1972]]. The PNP won 37 seats to the JLP's 16.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430"/> Shearer served as Opposition Leader until 1974. Bustamante finally gave up the post of party leader in 1974, and [[Edward Seaga]] was elected his successor. The party lost the [[1976 Jamaican general election|1976 elections]], the PNP winning 47 seats to the JLP's 13. The turnout was a very high 85 percent.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430"/> Seaga became Prime Minister after victory in [[1980 Jamaican general election|1980]] when the party won by a landslide, capturing 51 of the then 60 parliamentary seats.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430"/> In 1983 with the JLP achieving a spike in popularity, in part because of Seaga's support of the US-led military [[invasion of Grenada]], Seaga called [[1983 Jamaican general election|early elections]] and won all sixty seats, the majority by acclamation, mainly because the opposition PNP boycotted those elections. The JLP suffered defeat in the [[1989 Jamaican general election|1989 elections]]. The PNP won 45 seats to the JLP's 15.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430"/> The JLP went on to lose elections in [[1993 Jamaican general election|1993]], [[1997 Jamaican general election|1997]] and [[2002 Jamaican general election|2002]], all under the continued leadership of Seaga. In 1993, the PNP, led by [[P.J. Patterson]], won 52 seats to the JLP's eight seats, while in 1997 the PNP won 50 of the 60 seats available.<ref name="Dieter Nohlen 2005 p. 430"/> In the [[2002 Jamaican general election]], the PNP retained power with a reduced seat majority of 34 seats to 26.<ref name="Nohlen 2005 p430">[[Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p430 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}}</ref> Patterson stepped down on 26 February 2006, and was replaced by [[Portia Simpson-Miller]], Jamaica's first female Prime Minister. In 2005 [[Bruce Golding]] succeeded Seaga as leader of the party, and led it to victory in the [[2007 Jamaican general election|2007 elections]] by a narrow margin of 32 seats to 28, with a turnout of 61.46%.<ref>''Caribbean Elections: Jamaican Election Centre'', "Jamaican general election results 3 September 2007" http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2007.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164530/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2007.asp |date=2020-12-05 }} Retrieved 24 December 2020.</ref> This election ended 18 years of PNP rule, and [[Bruce Golding]] became the new prime minister.<ref>[http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070909/news/news2.html Pollster's diary: virtual motion picture of campaign 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622031614/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070909/news/news2.html |date=2008-06-22}}, Jamaica Gleaner, 9 September 2007</ref> Golding resigned as head of the party and Prime Minister in October 2011 and was succeeded by [[Andrew Holness]]. Soon after becoming leader, Holness called [[2011 Jamaican general election|an election]] over a year before it was constitutionally due, and the party lost by a 2:1 margin to the PNP. Portia Simpson-Miller and the PNP returned to power. The number of seats had been increased to 63, and the PNP swept to power with a landslide 42 seats to the JLP's 21. The voter turnout was 53.17%.<ref>''Caribbean Elections: Jamaican Election Centre'', "Jamaican general election results 29 December 2011" http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2011.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208122455/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2011.asp |date=2020-12-08 }} Retrieved 24 December 2020.</ref> Holness continued to lead the party as Opposition Leader. The party held a leadership election on 10 November 2013 where Holness was challenged by his deputy, Shadow Minister for Finance [[Audley Shaw]]. Holness defeated Shaw by a margin of 2,704 votes to Shaw's 2,012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131111/lead/lead1.html|title=Real 'Man A Yaad' - Holness clobbers Shaw to remain JLP leader|date=11 November 2013 |access-date=2014-07-04|archive-date=2013-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114011739/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131111/lead/lead1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Holness went on to lead the JLP to a narrow, one-seat parliamentary majority (32–31) in the [[2016 Jamaican general election|2016 general election]], reducing the PNP to the opposition benches after one term. The voter turnout dipped below 50% for the first time, registering just 48.37%.<ref>''Caribbean Elections: Jamaican Election Centre'', "Jamaican general election results 25 February 2016" http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2016.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731030013/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2016.asp |date=2020-07-31 }} Retrieved 24 December 2020.</ref> In the [[2020 Jamaican general election|2020 general election]], Andrew Holness made history for the JLP by accomplishing a second consecutive win for the Jamaica Labour Party, winning 49 seats to 14 won by the PNP, led this time by [[Peter Phillips (politician)|Peter Phillips]]. The last time a consecutive win occurred for the JLP was in 1980. However, the turnout at this election was just 37%, probably affected by the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200903/javotes2020-jlp-trounces-pnp-49-14-seats JLP Trounces PNP 49 To 14 Seats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085739/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200903/javotes2020-jlp-trounces-pnp-49-14-seats |date=5 September 2020 }} The Gleaner, 3 September 2020</ref> This is what Jamaicans classified as a "landslide victory".<ref>{{cite web | title=Jamaica's Ruling Party Claims Landslide Victory in Thursday's General Election | url=https://www.voanews.com/americas/jamaicas-ruling-party-claims-landslide-victory-thursdays-general-election | date=September 4, 2020 | work=[[Voice of America]] | access-date=September 5, 2020 | archive-date=September 10, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910044615/https://www.voanews.com/americas/jamaicas-ruling-party-claims-landslide-victory-thursdays-general-election | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Charles | first1=Jacqueline | title=Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Jamaica Labor Party retain power in 'tsunami victory' | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article245460120.html | date=September 3, 2020 | work=[[Miami Herald]] | access-date=September 5, 2020 | archive-date=September 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905085502/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article245460120.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Jamaica election: Andrew Holness' JLP re-elected amid rise in Covid-19 cases | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53997063 | date=September 4, 2020 | work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=September 5, 2020 | archive-date=September 6, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906223613/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53997063 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Chappell | first1=Kate | title=Jamaica's ruling party claims re-election victory in landslide win | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jamaica-elections/jamaicas-ruling-party-claims-re-election-victory-in-landslide-win-idUSKBN25U1NU | date=September 3, 2020 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=September 5, 2020 | archive-date=September 6, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906141119/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jamaica-elections/jamaicas-ruling-party-claims-re-election-victory-in-landslide-win-idUSKBN25U1NU | url-status=live }}</ref> == Political positions == {{Conservatism sidebar}} The JLP is a conservative party. It believes in a [[market-driven economy]] and individual personal responsibility. In May 2008, in an interview with [[Stephen Sackur]] of the [[BBC]], [[Bruce Golding]] PM and Party Leader declared that any [[Cabinet of Jamaica|cabinet]] formed by him would exclude any MP known to be gay.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=8787|title=Premierminister: Homosexualität ist nicht jamaikanisch|work=queer.de|date=23 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029173105/http://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=8787|archive-date=29 October 2017|language=German}}</ref> In previous statements, Golding stated that he and his party strongly opposed public displays of homosexuality in Jamaica and that he felt that they should continue to be illegal in keeping with Jamaican societal norms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070707T160000-0500_125077_OBS_GOLDING_SAYS__NO__TO_HOMOSEXUALITY.asp|title=Golding says 'no' to homosexuality|last=Williams|first=Petre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614082925/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070707T160000-0500_125077_OBS_GOLDING_SAYS__NO__TO_HOMOSEXUALITY.asp|archive-date=14 June 2009|work=Jamaica Observer|date=8 July 2007}}</ref> He underlined the [[LGBT rights in Jamaica|illegality of homosexual acts]] by citing Christian values and the integrity of the family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/violent-prejudice-jamaica-gay-people|title=Violent prejudice against Jamaica's gay people must stop|last=Tomlinson|first=Maurice|date=27 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904101427/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/violent-prejudice-jamaica-gay-people|work=The Guardian|archive-date=4 September 2017|access-date=19 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 October 2010 |title=Bruce Golding on "Is Jamaica Homophobic?" |work=Blogspot |url=http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/bruce-golding-on-is-jamaica-homophobic.html |access-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182452/http://glbtqjamaica.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/bruce-golding-on-is-jamaica-homophobic.html |archive-date=9 February 2018}}</ref> Since the 1990s, the JLP has stated its intention for Jamaica to be a republic, thus dropping the British monarchy as its head of state. Following Barbados' transition to a republic in 2021, Prime Minister and JLP leader [[Andrew Holness]] suggested that a referendum on republicanism could be held in Jamaica in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfowler/2023/01/19/jamaicas-prime-minister-pushes--forward-to-make-nation-a-republic/|title=Jamaica's Prime Minister Pushes Forward To Make Nation A Republic|first=Richard|last=Fowler|date=19 January 2023|website=Forbes}}</ref> "Jamaica is, as you would see, a country that is very proud of our history and very proud of what we have achieved," Holness said in June 2022. "And we intend to attain, in short order, our development goals and fulfill our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2023/01/19/jamaica-limping-towards-a-republic-process-stalled/|title=Jamaica limping towards a republic; process stalled|first=Bert|last=Wilkinson|date=January 19, 2023|website=New York Amsterdam News}}</ref> == Electoral performance == === House of Representatives=== {{Graph:Chart|width=350|type=rect|colors=#00A94C|showValues= |xAxisTitle=General elections |xAxisAngle=-40 |x=1944, 1949, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2020 |yAxisTitle=% of popular vote |y=41.4,42.7,39.0,44.3,50.0,50.7,43.4,43.2,58.3,88.0,42.9,39.1,38.6,46.9,50.0,46.3,49.5, 57.1}} {| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! scope="col" | Election ! scope="col" | Leader ! scope="col" | Votes ! scope="col" | Share of votes ! scope="col" | Seats ! scope="col" | Result |- | [[1944 Jamaican general election|1944]] | rowspan="5" | [[Alexander Bustamante]] | '''144,661''' | '''41.4%''' | {{Composition bar|22|32|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Supermajority Government}} |- | [[1949 Jamaican general election|1949]] | 199,538 | 42.7% | {{Composition bar|17|32|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Majority government}} |- | [[1955 Jamaican general election|1955]] | 189,929 | 39.0% | {{Composition bar|14|32|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1959 Jamaican general election|1959]] | 247,149 | 44.3% | {{Composition bar|16|45|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1962 Jamaican general election|1962]] | '''288,130''' | '''50.0%''' | {{Composition bar|26|45|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Majority government}} |- | [[1967 Jamaican general election|1967]] | [[Donald Sangster]] | '''224,180''' | '''50.7%''' | {{Composition bar|33|53|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Majority government}} |- | [[1972 Jamaican general election|1972]] | [[Hugh Shearer]] | 205,587 | 43.4% | {{Composition bar|16|53|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1976 Jamaican general election|1976]] | rowspan="7" | [[Edward Seaga]] | 318,180 | 43.2% | {{Composition bar|13|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1980 Jamaican general election|1980]] | '''502,115''' | '''58.3%''' | {{Composition bar|51|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Supermajority government}} |- | [[1983 Jamaican general election|1983]] | '''23,363''' | '''88.0%''' | {{Composition bar|60|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Supermajority government}} |- | [[1989 Jamaican general election|1989]] | 362,589 | 42.9% | {{Composition bar|15|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1993 Jamaican general election|1993]] | 263,711 | 39.1% | {{Composition bar|8|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[1997 Jamaican general election|1997]] | 297,387 | 38.6% | {{Composition bar|10|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[2002 Jamaican general election|2002]] | 360,468 | 46.9% | {{Composition bar|26|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[2007 Jamaican general election|2007]] | [[Bruce Golding]] | '''410,438''' | '''50.0%''' | {{Composition bar|32|60|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Majority government}} |- | [[2011 Jamaican general election|2011]] | rowspan="3" | [[Andrew Holness]] | 405,920 | 46.3% | {{Composition bar|21|63|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{no2|Opposition}} |- | [[2016 Jamaican general election|2016]] | '''436,972''' | '''49.5%''' | {{Composition bar|32|63|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Majority government}} |- |[[2020 Jamaican general election|2020]] |'''406,085''' |'''57.1%''' |{{Composition bar|49|63|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} | {{yes2|Supermajority government}} |} ===West Indies=== {{see also|West Indies Democratic Labour Party|1958 West Indies federal elections|West Indies Federation|Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation}} {{Graph:Chart|width=25|type=rect|colors=#00A94C|showValues= |xAxisTitle=West Indies election |xAxisAngle=-40 |x=1958 |yAxisTitle=% of popular vote |y=52.2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Election ! colspan=3 rowspan=2|Party Group ! rowspan=2|Leader ! colspan=2|Votes ! colspan="2" |Seats ! rowspan=2|Position ! rowspan="2" |Government |- ! No. ! Share ! No. ! Share |- | bgcolor="{{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}" width="1" | |[[1958 West Indies federal elections|1958]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Jamaica Observer Limited |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/the-1958-federal-election_128987?profile=1470 |access-date=25 June 2020 |work=Jamaica Observer |archive-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627082141/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/the-1958-federal-election_128987?profile=1470 |url-status=live }}</ref> |colspan="2" style="background:{{party color|West Indies Democratic Labour Party}};"| |[[West Indies Democratic Labour Party|DLP]] |William Alexander Clarke Bustamante |style="text-align:right;"|451,233 |style="text-align:right;"|52.2% |{{Composition bar|12|17|hex={{party color|Jamaica Labour Party}}}} |style="text-align:right;"|70.6% |'''1st''' |{{no2|[[WIFLP]]}} |} ==List of party leaders== *[[Sir Alexander Bustamante]] (1943–1974) *[[Sir Donald Sangster]] (''acting'': 1965–1967){{ref|1|1}} *[[Hugh Shearer]] (''acting'': 1967–1974){{ref|1|1}} *[[Edward Seaga]] (1974–2005) *[[Bruce Golding]] (2005–2011) *[[Andrew Holness]] (2011–present) ==Notes== :1.{{note|1}} <small>Donald Sangster and Hugh Shearer were not actually leaders of the JLP but were ''de facto'' leaders during Bustamante's illness/withdrawal from active political life.</small> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.jamaicalabourparty.com/ Official JLP website] *[http://www.discoverjamaica.com/gleaner/discover/geography/history8.htm History of the JLP and the PNP] {{Jamaican political parties}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:African and Black nationalism in North America]] [[Category:African and Black nationalist parties]] [[Category:Conservative parties in Jamaica]] [[Category:Fiscal conservatism]] [[Category:Labour parties]] [[Category:Paternalistic conservatism]] [[Category:Political parties established in 1943]] [[Category:Political parties in Jamaica]] [[Category:Republican parties]] [[Category:Republicanism in Jamaica]]'