TheImperial British Conservative Party was afarcical political party founded byThe Wizard of New Zealand in 1974. It "stood for the traditions ofBritish imperialism in the face ofcapitalism,globalisation and the distinct lack of culture inChristchurch, New Zealand."[1] It was still operating in 1984, though news reports also referred to it as The Wizard Party.[2]
The party contested the1975 election on a platform of conserving the monarchy, waging a fourth world war using votes and notices of motion to convert everyone to the British way of life, and the elimination of work to strengthen the family.[3] It planned to stand a dozen candidates.[4] The party stood a candidate in the1976 Nelson by-election, where a tabulation error in their final results was attributed to a "hex" placed by the Wizard.[5]
For the1978 election it changed its name to the Tory Party.[6] It later ran a candidate in the1980 Onehunga by-election.
At the1984 election it ran a candidate against Geoffrey Palmer.[7] It also ran candidates at the1987 election.[8]
The Imperial British Conservative Party also had a presence in Australia, especially during therepublican debate of the 1990s. The party ran three candidates at the1983 Australian federal election.[9][10]
One of its candidates,Cecil G. Murgatroyd, had run for parliament in several Australian federal elections, at each time standing against the Prime Minister (initiallyBob Hawke), and in the1992 Wills by-election after Hawke resigned from parliament.[11] In official statements, Murgatroyd listed his occupation as "dole bludger". At other times, Murgatroyd stood under the banner of another New Zealand joke party, theMcGillicuddy Serious Party.[citation needed]
In one Australian election in the 1980s, the party promised to dye the Speaker's wig a conservative blue.[citation needed]
Another candidate, James Ferrari (at one point contesting as Jim Ferrari) ran for the party in the seat ofMelbourne at every election from 1980 until 2001.[12]
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