Labour Party (Singapore)

The Labour Party was a political party in Singapore.

History

The party was established on 23 March 1948 by several trade unionists.^[1] Its first electoral test was the April 1949 local elections, in which it received 13% of the vote, winning one of the 18 seats. In the next local elections in December the party's vote share increased to 43%,^[2] although it only won two of the six seats. The party won one seat in the 1950 elections.

The party contested 1951 general elections, receiving 30% of the vote and winning two of the nine elected seats.^[3] In the local elections later in the year, the party won three seats.

However, the party saw several splits in the early 1950s, leading to the formation of the Labour Front. It won only one seat in the 1952 local elections and none in the 1953 elections. By the time of the 1955 general elections the party had lost both its MPs.^[4] In the elections it received less than 1% of the vote and failed to win a seat.

The party did not contest the 1959 general elections, and after the Societies Ordinance came into force in 1960, it failed to re-register.^[1]

References

1. Labour Party Singapore elections
2. Municipal Commission election December 1949: Votes Singapore Elections
3. Legislative Council general election 1951: Seats Singapore Elections
4. Legislative Assembly general election 1955: Seats Singapore Elections