1971 Antiguan general election explained

Type:parliamentary
Country:Antigua and Barbuda
Election Date:11 February 1971
Previous Year:1965
Next Year:1976
Seats For Election:All 17 seats in the House of Representatives
Majority Seats:9
Turnout:55.92%
Outgoing Members:4th legislature of Antigua and Barbuda#Members
Elected Members:5th legislature of Antigua and Barbuda#Members
Image1:George_Walter,_Premier_of_Antigua.jpg
Leader1:George Walter
Party1:Progressive Labour Movement
Seats1:13
Seat Change1:New
Popular Vote1:9,761
Percentage1:57.72%
Swing1:New
Leader2:Vere Bird
Party2:ALP
Seats2:4
Seat Change2: 6
Popular Vote2:6,409
Percentage2:37.90%
Swing2: 47.12pp
Premier
Posttitle:Subsequent Premier
Before Election:Vere Bird
Before Party:ALP
After Election:George Walter
After Party:PLM

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 11 February 1971.[1] They were won by the Progressive Labour Movement. PLM leader George Walter was elected Premier of Antigua, defeating the incumbent Premier Vere Bird of the Antigua Labour Party. The PLM was founded in 1967 after a split in the leadership of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union; this was its first election, as well as its first and only electoral victory.

The 1971 election marked the first change of government in the history of Antigua and Barbuda. It was the first election held in the territory since its creation as a West Indies Associated State in 1967 and the end of its period under British colonial rule. Voter turnout was 56.4%.[1]

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]