View source for English Democrats

{{Short description|Political party}}
{{distinguish|English Liberal Democrats|British Democratic Party}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = The English Democrats
| logo             = English Democrats Logo.png
| colorcode        = {{party color|English Democrats Party}}
| leader           =
| chairman         = [[Robin Tilbrook]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englishdemocrats.party/party_structure |title=Party Structure Party Structure |publisher=English Democrats |accessdate=10 May 2023 |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509230125/https://www.englishdemocrats.party/party_structure |url-status=live }}</ref>
| foundation       = {{start date and age|2002}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/english-democrats-f5f.pdf |title=APPG for reform, decentralisation and devolution in the UK |access-date=3 October 2021 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003205011/https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/english-democrats-f5f.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|[[English nationalism]]|{{Nowrap|[[Devolved English parliament|English parliamentary devolution]]}}|[[Hard Euroscepticism]]|[[Opposition to immigration#United Kingdom|Anti-immigration]]}}
| headquarters     = Quires Green<br />[[Chipping Ongar|Ongar]], [[Essex]], CM5 0QP<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englishdemocrats.party/contact|title=Contact Us |publisher=English Democrats|accessdate=24 May 2022}}</ref>
| national         = Patriots Alliance - English Democrats and [[UKIP]]<ref>{{cite web|title = "Patriots Alliance - English Democrats and UKIP"|url = https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/parties/joint-party:17-85/patriots-alliance-english-democrats-and-ukip|website = Who Can I Vote For?|access-date = 8 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = CASE FILE: Patriots Alliance (UKIP & English Democrats)|url = https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-patriots-alliance/|website = Hope not hate|date = 5 March 2024|access-date = 8 February 2025}}</ref><br>[[Alliance for Democracy (UK)|Alliance for Democracy]] (2010)<ref>{{cite news|title = Profile: English Democrats|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8595495.stm|work = BBC News|date = 8 April 2010|access-date = 26 June 2025}}</ref>
| international    =
| website          = {{URL|https://www.englishdemocrats.party/|englishdemocrats.party}}
| country          = England
| leader1_title    =
| leader1_name     =
| merger           =
| dissolution      =
| youth_wing       = {{Nowrap|Young English Democrats}}
| position         = [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]<ref>{{cite news |last= Tingle |first= Len |date= 24 October 2014 |title= Police Commissioner election overshadowed by grooming |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29230116 |work= BBC News |access-date= 31 July 2020 |archive-date= 27 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210227141806/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29230116 |url-status= live }}</ref> to [[far-right]]<ref>{{cite news |last= Lusher |first= Adam |date= 28 July 2016 |title= Racism unleashed: 'Send the lot back' – on the road in post-referendum England |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/racism-brexit-immigration-eu-referendum-post-referendum-boston-least-integrated-town-a7150541.html |work= The Independent |access-date= 31 July 2020 |archive-date= 8 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200908204611/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/racism-brexit-immigration-eu-referendum-post-referendum-boston-least-integrated-town-a7150541.html |url-status= live }}</ref>
| colours          = {{colour box|Red|border=silver}} Red and {{colour box|White|border=silver}} white
| membership_year  = 2015
| membership       = 2,500<ref>{{cite news |author=George Eaton |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/01/green-party-membership-course-overtake-ukips |title=Green Party membership on course to overtake Ukip's |work=The New Statesman |date=14 January 2015 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122093040/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/01/green-party-membership-course-overtake-ukips |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

The '''English Democrats''' are a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]-to-[[Far-right politics|far-right]], [[English nationalism|English nationalist]] [[List of political parties in the United Kingdom|political party]] active in England. A [[minor party]], it currently has no elected representatives at any level of government.

The English Democrats were established in 2002 by members of the Campaign for an English Parliament [[pressure group]]. Following growing political [[devolution in the United Kingdom]], which had seen the creation of the [[Scottish Parliament]], [[Senedd|Welsh Parliament]] and [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], the party's founders called for a separate [[Devolved English parliament|English Parliament]]. In the 2000s, it obtained a small number of local councillors. In 2009, the party's candidate, [[Peter Davies (politician)|Peter Davies]], was elected Mayor of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster]], although he left the party in 2013 in protest at its admittance of former members of the [[Fascism|fascist]] [[British National Party]] (BNP). As well as attracting many ex-BNP members, who then constituted a sizeable percentage of the English Democrats' electoral candidates, in 2015 the political party [[Veritas (political party)|Veritas]] merged into it.

Ideologically committed to English nationalism, the party previously called for [[English independence|England to become an independent state]], thus leaving the United Kingdom. Since 2016, it has instead called only for the creation of a devolved English Parliament within a federal UK. It has also called for a referendum on whether [[Monmouthshire]], a county presently recognised as being in Wales, should instead be classified as part of England. The party is [[Euroscepticism|Eurosceptic]], and supported the UK leaving the [[European Union]].

== History ==
In 1998, in response to calls for the [[devolution]] of power to [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]], [[Robin Tilbrook]] aimed at reforming the [[English National Party]], which had ceased operating in 1981. This project included members of the [[Devolved English parliament|Campaign for an English Parliament]], a [[Advocacy group|pressure group]] that lobbies for a devolved English Parliament. The party was relaunched as the "English Democrats" in September 2002, after merging with several other smaller political parties. In October 2004 the party merged with the Reform UK Party, which was a small splinter group from the [[UK Independence Party|United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP). The [[New England Party]] merged with the English Democrats in February 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://northwest.englishdemocrats.party/about-2/|title=About English Democrats North West|website=northwest.englishdemocrats.party|language=en|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222193744/http://northwest.englishdemocrats.party/about-2/|archive-date=22 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The English Democrats were co-founders of the English Constitutional Convention,<ref>{{cite web|title=Devolution for England – The way forward |publisher=English Constitution Convention |url=http://www.englishconstitutionalconvention.com/ |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708090225/http://englishconstitutionalconvention.com/ |archive-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> now defunct.

In December 2004, it was rumoured that [[Robert Kilroy-Silk]], the former UKIP [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] had entered into negotiation to join the English Democrats.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hyde |first=Marina |title=Diary |work=[[The Guardian]] |date = 14 December 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/diary/story/0,,1372973,00.html| access-date =8 August 2007 |location=London}}</ref> However, Kilroy-Silk formed [[Veritas (political party)|Veritas]] instead.

In 2007, the columnist and conspiracy theorist [[Vernon Coleman]] announced he had joined the English Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vernoncoleman.com/englishdemo.htm|title=Why I've Joined The English Democrats|website=www.vernoncoleman.com|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=22 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522231358/http://www.vernoncoleman.com/englishdemo.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party's most significant electoral success came when Peter Davies (a former UKIP and Reform UK member), its candidate for Mayor of Doncaster, was [[2009 Doncaster Council mayoral election|elected]].  Having received 16,961 votes in the first round, 189 votes behind the [[independent (politician)|independent]] Michael Maye, Davies was returned in the second count on transfers of second preference votes, with 25,344 votes to 24,990.<ref name="DoncasterMayor2009">{{cite news|title=English Democrat is new Mayor of Doncaster|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-democrat-is-new-mayor-of-doncaster-1697869.html|access-date=5 June 2009|location=London|first=Celia|last=Paul|date=5 June 2009|archive-date=8 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608075826/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-democrat-is-new-mayor-of-doncaster-1697869.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Mayoral Election 2009 Results">{{cite web |title=Mayoral Election 2009 Results |url=http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/mayoral-election-results-2009 |publisher=Doncaster Council |date=5 June 2009 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909143059/http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/the-council-democracy/mayoral-election-results-2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>  However, Davies announced his resignation from the party on 5 February 2013 citing "a big influx of new members joining from the British National Party".<ref name="resignation">''BBC News'' [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21335384 "Doncaster mayor quits English Democrats 'because of BNP'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231003306/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21335384 |date=31 December 2018 }}, 5 February 2013</ref> One of its councillors, Mick Glynn, resigned the following day after the party's chairman, Tilbrook, launched a personal attack on Davies, thus reducing its number of elected representatives to two.<ref>England Watch blog [http://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/another-english-democrat-councillor-resigns/ "Another English Democrat Councillor Resigns."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426235722/http://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/another-english-democrat-councillor-resigns/ |date=26 April 2014 }}, 7 February 2013</ref> The English Democrats lost their remaining councillors in the 2015 local elections. On 18 September 2015, [[Veritas (political party)|Veritas]] merged into the English Democrats.<ref name="Merger with the English Democrats">{{cite web |url=http://www.veritasparty.com/ |title=Merger with the English Democrats |work=Veritas |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222534/http://www.veritasparty.com/ |url-status=live }}<br />- {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-33079925?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname= |title=English Democrats and Veritas to merge |series=Politics Live |work=BBC News |date=11 June 2015 }}</ref>

The party claimed a total membership of 1,011 at the end of 2004, and 1,202 at the end of 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=English Democrats Party Statement of Accounts |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom) |Electoral Commission]] |date=31 December 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/EnglishDemocrats_23009-17188__E__N__S__W__.PDF |access-date=8 August 2007}}{{dead link|date=May 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2015, the party lost the vast majority of its general election minimum 5% of poll [[deposit (politics)|deposits]], had a few councillors elected and gained some by defection and was regarded by some as a [[political fringe|fringe]] party.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11614787/Meet-the-small-loony-parties-who-never-win-anything-but-do-enrich-our-democracy.html | title=Meet the tiny, fringe parties who never win anything – but do enrich our democracy | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=19 May 2015 | access-date=19 October 2015 | archive-date=28 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128222223/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11614787/Meet-the-small-loony-parties-who-never-win-anything-but-do-enrich-our-democracy.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Leaders==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image
! Name
! Time in office
! Deputy leader/s
|-
| [[File:Robin_Tilbrook_2017.jpg|110px]]
| [[Robin Tilbrook]]
| 17 September 2002 – present
| ''None''
|-
|}

== Election performances and campaigns ==
{{Main|English Democrats election results}}
The first person to stand as a candidate for the English Democrats was Gary Cowd, who stood in West Heath Ward, Rushmoor, in North Hampshire<ref>{{cite news |author=John Walton |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/independents-rushmoor-challenge---john-5368997 |title=Independents' Rushmoor challenge |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427011014/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/independents-rushmoor-challenge---john-5368997 |archivedate=27 April 2014 |work=Get Hampshire |date=10 April 2003}}</ref> in a council by-election in May 2003. Cowd was an active member of the English Democrats and a National Council member. He left the party in 2006.

===House of Commons===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan=2|Election
! rowspan=2|Leader
! rowspan=2|Candidates
! colspan=2|Votes {{flagicon|ENG}}
! colspan=2|Seats {{flagicon|ENG}}
! colspan=2|Position
|-
! style="width:100px"|#
! style="width:40px"|%
! style="width:100px"|#
! style="width:40px"|±
! {{flagicon|ENG}}
! {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
! [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]<ref>{{cite news|title=2005 General election results|url=http://www.ukpolitical.info/ResultsFull05.htm|access-date=18 October 2015|website=UK Political Info|archive-date=7 September 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130907231453/http://www.ukpolitical.info/ResultsFull05.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| [[Robin Tilbrook]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:right;"| 15,149 <!--total votes 27,148,510-->
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.06%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|529|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 11th
| style="text-align:center;"| 23rd
|-
! [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Election 2010 Results|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/|access-date=22 January 2014|work=BBC News|archive-date=23 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123193646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 107
| style="text-align:right;"| 64,826 <!--total votes 27,148,510-->
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.25%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|533|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 7th
| style="text-align:center;"| 13th
|-
! [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |title=UK 2015 general election results in full" |work=The Guardian |archive-date=2 April 2019 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402042953/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,531 <!--total votes 30,691,680-->
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.02%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|533|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 11th
| style="text-align:center;"| 24th
|-
![[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results |title=Results of the 2017 General Election |website=BBC News |access-date=9 July 2017 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531172514/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,913 <!-- total votes 32,204,141 -->
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.01%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|533|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 13th
| style="text-align:center;"| 29th
|-
![[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |title=Known candidates for each ballot in the UK Parliament elections |publisher=Democracy Club |access-date=17 November 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031123547/https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,987
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.01%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|533|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 14th
| style="text-align:center;"| 31st
|-
![[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/political-parties/15|title=English Democrats General elections|work=Election Results|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]|accessdate=8 February 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,182
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.02%
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|533|hex={{party color|English Democrats}}}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{steady}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 17th
| style="text-align:center;"| 35th
|}

=== Parliamentary elections ===
At the [[2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election]] the English Democrat candidate received 277 votes, or 1.4% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lib Dems snatch Labour seat |website=BBC News |date=16 July 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3898823.stm |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301233600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3898823.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The party's slogan for the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]] was "The English Democrats – Putting England First!" In total, the English Democrats fielded 25 candidates for the May 2005 general election,<ref>{{cite web |last=Kimber |first=Richard |title=UK General Election candidates 2005: Number of candidates by party |website=Political Science Resources |date=2 February 2007 |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge05/cand/EDP.htm |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020554/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge05/cand/EDP.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> including [[Staffordshire]] South where the election was delayed until June due to the death of a candidate. The party withdrew its candidate in [[North Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|North Norfolk]] and endorsed the Conservative Party candidate, [[Iain Dale]], as he had "taken the issues of English discrimination seriously".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED30%20Mar%202005%2009%3A10%3A08%3A783 |title=English Democrat party bows out |date=30 March 2005 |work=Eastern Daily Press |access-date=2 May 2009 |archive-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525091307/http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED30%20Mar%202005%2009%3A10%3A08%3A783 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Garry Bushell]], the former ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|Sun]]'' journalist and current ''[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star Sunday]]'' TV critic, became the most high-profile candidate for the English Democrats, standing in the [[Greenwich and Woolwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenwich and Woolwich]] constituency in [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kimber |first=Richard |title=UK General Election candidates 2005 – English Democrats |website=Political Science Resources |date=2 February 2007 | url = http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge05/cand/EDP.htm |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020554/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge05/cand/EDP.htm |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bushell's 1,216 votes (3.4%) beat the [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]] candidate, Stan Gain, who secured 709 votes (2.0%);<ref>{{cite news |title=Greenwich and Woolwich |work=[[The Guardian]] |year=2005 |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-984,00/html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420061619/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-984,00/html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2013 |access-date=8 August 2007 |location=London }}</ref> this was the party's best result for the election though still a fifth-place performance.

In June 2005, Bushell also stood in [[South Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Staffordshire South]], where he received 643 votes (2.5%) coming fifth out of eight candidates.<ref>{{cite news| title = Result: Staffordshire South| website = [[BBC Online]] | date = 24 June 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/535.stm | access-date =8 August 2007 }}</ref> In 2011, Bushell announced that he would, in future, be supporting UKIP.

The English Democrats fielded Joanne Robinson as their candidate in the [[2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election|by-election]] forced by the resignation of former shadow home secretary [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]] from the House of Commons. Because of [[David Davis by-election campaign, 2008|the issues raised by David Davis]] in the by-election, many parties other than the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], such as [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], [[UK Independence Party|United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) and [[British National Party]] (BNP) chose not to stand. Joanne Robinson came third, with 1,714 votes (7.2%), 44 votes fewer than the Green candidate received in second place. Of the 26 candidates she was one of only three to win back her deposit. This result is both the highest place gained and the highest percentage of the votes won by any English Democrat candidate in a parliamentary election or parliamentary by-election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-991,00.html |title=Ask Aristotle: Haltemprice and Howden |access-date=11 July 2008 |date=2 May 2008 |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615025338/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0%2C%2C-991%2C00.html |archive-date=15 June 2008}}</ref>

[[File:English Democrats 771 DYE.JPG|thumb|[[Campaign bus]] during the 2010 general election]]

The English Democrats stood 107 candidates in the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]. 106 is the minimum number required to qualify for a Party Election Broadcast. The English Democrats received 64,826 votes, or 0.3% of the vote in England, and 0.2% of the vote in the United Kingdom. No candidates were elected<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/region/48.stm |title=Results: England |work=Election 2010 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-date=12 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512165304/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/region/48.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> but the party saved one deposit in the [[Doncaster North (UK Parliament constituency)|Doncaster North]] constituency, where candidate Wayne Crawshaw picked up 5.2% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b41.stm|title=UK > England > Yorkshire & the Humber > Doncaster North|date=7 May 2010|work=Election 2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122134643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b41.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In subsequent by-elections, the party contested [[2011 Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election|Oldham East and Saddleworth]] (where Stephen Morris polled 144 (0.4%)),<ref>UK Polling Report: [http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/oldhameastandsaddleworth/ "Oldham East and Saddleworth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020190753/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/oldhameastandsaddleworth |date=20 October 2012 }} 14 January 2011</ref> [[2011 Barnsley Central by-election|Barnsley Central]] (Kevin Riddiough polled 544 (2.2%) votes),<ref>Brian Wheeler, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12645311 Barnsley by-election: What now for Lib Dems?], ''BBC News'', 4 March 2011</ref> [[2011 Feltham and Heston by-election|Feltham and Heston]] (Roger Cooper polled 322 (1.4%)),<ref>[http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Feltham+%26+Heston Feltham & Heston] at telegraph.co.uk (accessed 12 May 2012)  {{dead link|date=April 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[2012 Corby by-election|Corby]] (David Wickham polled 432 (1.2%) votes)<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20345196 "By-elections: Labour takes Corby from Conservatives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116034118/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20345196 |date=16 November 2012 }}, ''BBC News'', 16 November 2012</ref> and [[2012 Rotherham by-election|Rotherham]] (David Wildgoose polled 703 (3.3%) votes).<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20541136 "By-elections: Labour retains three seats"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908224212/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20541136 |date=8 September 2019 }} ''BBC News'', 30 November 2012</ref>

At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], the party contested 32 seats, securing a total of 6,531 votes (0.02%).{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In the [[2016 Batley and Spen by-election]], the English Democrats received 4.8% of the votes, coming second to Labour's [[Tracy Brabin]], when all of the other major parties did not stand out of respect for the murdered MP, [[Jo Cox]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}

=== European Parliament elections ===
==== 2004 ====
The English Democrats stood candidates for the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliament election]] in five of the nine regions of England. The party's 2004 election canvassing leaflet featured the slogan, "Not left, not right, just English". Its candidates received 130,056 votes in total.

==== 2009 ====
In June 2009, the English Democrats contested [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|elections to the European Parliament]]. The party fielded a full slate of candidates across the nine [[Regions of England|English European parliament constituencies]]. On 18 May 2009, the English Democrats broadcast their first national [[Party political broadcast|Party Election Broadcast]].<ref>{{cite news|title=English Democrats Party European election broadcast|work=BBC News |date=18 May 2009 |access-date=9 June 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8056575.stm }}</ref> They came seventh in the election in England (ninth in the UK as a whole) with 279,801 votes or 1.8%, a rise from the 0.7% they received at the previous elections in 2004. The English Democrats do not stand in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, and their vote across England in 2009 was 2.1%, an increase of 1.3% yet still did not keep their deposits except in Yorkshire and the Humber where they gained 2.6% of the vote. None of the English Democrats candidates were elected; the English Democrats were the highest-polling party across the UK not to have an MEP elected.

==== 2014 ====
The English Democrats began their [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 EU election campaign]] in September 2013 with an extensive social media campaign. On 30 April 2014, they held a rally at [[Fobbing]] in [[Essex]], the site of the 1381 [[Peasants' Revolt]], and declared, "let the English revolt begin."<ref>{{cite news |title=English Democrats demand 'revolt' at elections launch |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27218757 |access-date=12 May 2014 |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=30 April 2014 |archive-date=11 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511045042/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27218757 |url-status=live }}</ref> The party fielded a full slate of candidates across the nine [[Regions of England|English European parliament constituencies]] on 22 May 2014. On 13 February 2014, party chairman Robin Tilbrook appeared on the BBC ''Daily Politics'' with [[Nicola Sturgeon]], the deputy leader of the [[Scottish National Party]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giqcFeUBa7Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/giqcFeUBa7Q| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Robin Tilbrook on the Daily Politics 13 2 14 with Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon|date=14 February 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The English Democrats performed poorly at the election, taking just 0.8% of the votes, down more than 1% on 2009. They again failed to win any seats.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results "Vote 2014: UK European election results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609080832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results |date=9 June 2017 }}, ''BBC News''. Accessed 22 January 2015.</ref>

==== 2019 ====
In May 2019, the English Democrats took part in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|elections to the European Parliament]], fielding candidates in only four out of nine English [[European Parliament constituencies in the United Kingdom|constituencies]]: [[East of England (European Parliament constituency)|East of England]], [[North West England (European Parliament constituency)|North West England]], [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]], and [[Yorkshire and the Humber (European Parliament constituency)|Yorkshire and the Humber]]. In total they received [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom#Results|39,938 votes, 0.2% of the 17,199,701 valid votes cast]], being around 10,000 in each of the constituencies they contested. They again failed to win any seats.

=== Local councils ===
In November 2005, the party achieved its first electoral success when Paul Adams was elected to [[Crowborough]] Town Council, polling 120 votes, or 56.8% of the poll, on a turnout of 10%.<ref>{{cite web | last = Blanshard | first = Heather | title = St. Johns Ward – Declaration of result of poll | publisher = Crowborough Town Council | date = 25 November 2005 | url = http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Council/Electoral_services/Results/documents/CrowStJohns241105.PDF | access-date = 8 August 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071027213938/http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Council/Electoral_services/Results/documents/CrowStJohns241105.PDF | archive-date = 27 October 2007}}</ref>

In the [[2007 United Kingdom local elections|2007 local elections]], 78 candidates stood for election in boroughs and districts in 15 English counties, including 20 in [[2007 Dartford Council election|Dartford]] and ten in [[2007 Portsmouth Council election|Portsmouth]]. All were unsuccessful.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

In 2008, the party fielded candidates in 12 district council elections. None was elected. The party's best results were when it came second to the Conservatives: in the [[Finningley]] ward of Doncaster and in three wards in Rochford.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishdemocrats.org.uk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=2 |title=English Democrats Election Results |access-date=15 May 2008 |date=2 May 2008 |publisher=English Democrats Party}}</ref>

In the 2009 English local elections, the party fielded 84 county council and local authority candidates, with a particular focus in Bristol, Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire and Lancashire.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} The party had an unexpected success when Peter Davies, its candidate for Mayor of Doncaster, was elected. Having received 16,961 votes in the first round, 189 votes behind the [[independent (politician)|independent]] Michael Maye, Davies was returned in the second count on transfers of second preference votes, with 25,344 votes to 24,990.<ref name="DoncasterMayor2009" /><ref name="Mayoral Election 2009 Results" />

In 2010, the party also stood in the local elections on 6 May, but did not publish a list of candidates.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} The two sitting English Democrat councillors on Calderdale and Blackburn with Darwen councils retired, and the party did not nominate any candidates to contest the seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/democracy/election-information/district-election/index.html |title=Notice of election |date=29 March 2010 |publisher=Calderdale Council |access-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510021116/http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/democracy/election-information/district-election/index.html |archive-date=10 May 2010 }}<br />- {{cite web|url=http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.51745|title=Local elections candidates 2010|publisher=Blackburn with Darwen Council|access-date=7 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120254/http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.51745|archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref>

In 2011, the EDP stood about 130 candidates in district level elections; two were elected. The [[Boston (borough)|Boston Borough Council]] elections on 5 May 2011, saw the election of the first two EDP councillors. David Owens and Elliott Fountain were elected in the Fenside Ward for a four-year term, thus becoming the only EDP members of a district council to be elected by public vote. A sitting EDP councillor on Peterborough council lost his seat.

The party fielded a candidate in the 3 March 2011 local by-election for the [[Walkden]] North ward of [[Salford City Council]]. Its candidate, Laurence Depares, polled 125 votes (7%) and came third, ahead of the British National Party and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]];<ref>[https://www.salford.gov.uk/byelection03032011.htm By-election result: 3 March 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221224611/https://www.salford.gov.uk/byelection03032011.htm |date=21 February 2014 }}, Salford City Council</ref> in a by-election in the same city's Swinton South ward on 7 January 2014 the party was fifth with 54 votes (3.7%).<ref>[https://www.salford.gov.uk/results.htm By-election result: 7 January 2014] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222015757/https://www.salford.gov.uk/results.htm |date=22 February 2014 }}, Salford City Council</ref>

In 2012, the party fielded 101 candidates in the local elections in England, including district council elections, mayoral contests and elections to the Greater London Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|title=English Democrats: Party 'could win' council seats|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17905663|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 May 2012|date=1 May 2012|archive-date=4 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504005004/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17905663|url-status=live}}</ref> None was elected, and the party suffered the loss of the two seats it was defending, one that it had gained from a former BNP member who had defected to the party and another from an ex-Tory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vote 2012: English Council Results|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/vote2012/council/england.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=5 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505165621/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/vote2012/council/england.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The English Democrats has come under fire from the anti-fascist groups [[Unite Against Fascism]]<ref>{{cite web|title=BNP and other fascist election candidates|url=http://uaf.org.uk/2012/04/bnp-and-other-fascist-election-candidates-2012/|publisher=[[Unite Against Fascism]]|access-date=14 May 2012|archive-date=15 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015084930/http://uaf.org.uk/2012/04/bnp-and-other-fascist-election-candidates-2012/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Hope not Hate]]<ref>{{cite web|title=English Democrats in our sights|url=http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/blog/article/1735/english-democrats-in-our-sights|work=Vote 2012|publisher=[[Hope not Hate]]|access-date=14 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601040703/http://hopenothate.org.uk/blog/article/1735/english-democrats-in-our-sights|archive-date=1 June 2012}}</ref> and from the trades unions [[NASUWT]] and [[Unite the Union]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Warning! The English Democrats has become the new home for ex-members of the BNP|url=http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/consum/groups/public/@press/documents/nas_download/nasuwt_009263.pdf|work=Vote2012|publisher=[[NASUWT]] and [[Unite the Union]]|access-date=14 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> over the number of former BNP members standing for election for the party. 43% of English Democrats candidates in the 2012 local elections were former BNP members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Another 'rival' faces post-election blues and meltdown|url=http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/national/another-rival-faces-post-election-blues-and-meltdown|work=BNP Blog|publisher=[[British National Party|BNP]]|access-date=14 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511041927/http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/national/another-rival-faces-post-election-blues-and-meltdown|archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

The EDP contested the [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|mayoral elections]] in [[Directly elected mayor of Liverpool|Liverpool]] and [[Directly elected mayor of Salford|Salford]]. In Liverpool, its candidate received 1.42% of the vote, finishing in ninth place, and in Salford 3.6% finishing in eighth place.<ref>{{cite news|title=English mayoral elections and referendums|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17299196|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 May 2012|date=4 May 2012|archive-date=3 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503223512/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17299196|url-status=live}}</ref> The party chairman, Robin Tilbrook, declared that he was standing for [[Mayor of London]] and asked for donations through one of the party's websites but his name did not appear on the ballot paper.

=== Welsh Assembly ===
In 2007, in line with [[English Democrats Party#Traditional counties|the English Democrats stance on the status of Monmouthshire]], 13 English Democrat candidates contested the [[National Assembly for Wales|Welsh Assembly]] elections in the South East Wales region, and the constituencies of Monmouth (fifth with 2.7%), Newport East (sixth, 2.2%) and Newport West (fifth, 2.7%).<ref>{{cite news| title = Welsh assembly election 2007| website = [[BBC Online]]| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/vote2007/maps/wales_constituencies/html/wales_constituencies_map.stm| access-date = 8 August 2007| date = 21 March 2007| archive-date = 29 August 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829162442/http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/vote2007/maps/wales_constituencies/html/wales_constituencies_map.stm| url-status = live}}</ref> The party also received 0.9% of the vote on the regional list.

{{citation needed span|In the [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|2011 Welsh Assembly election]], the Kent-based Steve Uncles was the candidate in [[Monmouth (Assembly constituency)|Monmouth]], in line with its view that [[Monmouthshire]] have English governance restored. He polled 744 (2.47%) of the votes cast. The incumbent Conservative assembly member was returned.|date=July 2022}}

The party contested the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 Welsh Assembly election]] in Monmouth. Its candidate, Stephen Morris, received 146 votes, 0.5% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news| title = Monmouth Welsh Assembly constituency| website = [[BBC Online]]| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000034| access-date = 30 May 2016| date = 6 May 2016| archive-date = 28 April 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160428112107/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000034| url-status = live}}</ref>

===London mayoral elections===
In July 2007, Garry Bushell was nominated as the English Democrats' mayoral candidate for the [[2008 London mayoral election|2008 London mayoral and Assembly elections]] with the campaign slogan "Serious About London".<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Bushell Serious about London |publisher=English Democrats |url=http://www.garryformayor.com/index.php |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011203210/http://www.garryformayor.com/index.php |archive-date=11 October 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> In January 2008, he stepped down as candidate because of work commitments and [[Matt O'Connor (activist)|Matt O'Connor]], the founder of [[Fathers 4 Justice]], was selected by the English Democrats in his place with his campaign expected to start on 14 February. His campaign web site was launched on 31 January 2008.<ref>{{cite news| title = Fathers 4 Justice founder to enter Mayoral race| work = [[Evening Standard|London Evening Standard]]| date = 9 January 2008| url = http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23431525-fathers-4-justice-founder-to-enter-mayoral-race.do| access-date = 24 July 2010| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100716235529/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23431525-fathers-4-justice-founder-to-enter-mayoral-race.do| archive-date = 16 July 2010}}<br />- {{cite news| title = London Elects: The Candidates| publisher = londonelects.org.uk| url = http://www.londonelects.org.uk/candidates/the_candidates.aspx| access-date = 31 March 2008| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080331125619/http://www.londonelects.org.uk/candidates/the_candidates.aspx| archive-date = 31 March 2008}}</ref> A [[party political broadcast]] for O'Connor's campaign was broadcast on 11 April.

One week before the election, on 25 April, O'Connor told [[Vanessa Feltz]] and the [[BBC]] that he was dropping out of the Mayoral race, giving as his reasons the lack of support within the English Democrats on [[St George's Day]] and a lack of press coverage<ref>{{cite news |title = O'Connor quits Mayoral contest|work= BBC News | date = 25 April 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7366662.stm | access-date =25 April 2008 }}</ref> as well as the party's co-operation with the far-right group [[England First Party|England First]].<ref>{{cite news| title = O'Connor accuses English Democrats of BNP link after quitting race for Mayor| work = [[East London Advertiser]] | author=Mike Brooke |date = 25 April 2008 | url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/raceformayor/mayorELA/story.aspx?brand=ELAOnline&category=voteforme&tBrand=elaonline&tCategory=voteforme&itemid=WeED25%20Apr%202008%2013%3A45%3A29%3A573 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090522003840/http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/raceformayor/mayorELA/story.aspx?brand=ELAOnline&category=voteforme&tBrand=elaonline&tCategory=voteforme&itemid=WeED25%20Apr%202008%2013%3A45%3A29%3A573 | archive-date= 22 May 2009 | access-date =7 January 2015 }}</ref> The English Democrats released a press statement on their website in response to his resignation voicing disappointment at his decision to quit the contest.<ref>{{cite news| title = Matt O'Connor's shock resignation press release| publisher = English Democrats| date = 25 April 2008| url = http://englishdemocrats.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=1| access-date = 25 April 2008| archive-date = 27 April 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010147/http://englishdemocrats.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=1| url-status = live}}</ref> O'Connor received 10,695 first preference votes (representing 0.44% of the votes cast) in the mayoral contest, ranking ninth out of ten candidates; he received 73,538 second preference votes (3.67%), ranking eighth.<ref>{{cite news | title = London mayoral election 2008 | work = BBC News | date = 6 May 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/london/08/html/mayor.stm | access-date = 15 May 2008 | archive-date = 5 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080505064243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/london/08/html/mayor.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

In December 2015, [[Winston McKenzie]] announced that he had joined the English Democrats, along with confirmation that he had been selected as a London Mayoral Candidate for the 2016 London Elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caribdirect.com/winston-mckenzie-steps-up-for-lon-mayors-race/|access-date=26 December 2015|title=Winston McKenzie for London Mayor|date=20 December 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106112342/http://www.caribdirect.com/winston-mckenzie-steps-up-for-lon-mayors-race/|url-status=live}}</ref> His nomination was deemed invalid and he did not contest the mayoral election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/14398522._I_m_going_to_give_George_Galloway_a_heart_attack___Winston_McKenzie_reveals_plan_to_get_Mayoral_campaign_back_on_track/?ref=mr&lp=11|title='I'm going to give George Galloway a heart attack': Winston McKenzie reveals plan to get Mayoral campaign back on track|work=Croydon Guardian|date=April 2016|access-date=7 May 2016|archive-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414183549/http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/14398522._I_m_going_to_give_George_Galloway_a_heart_attack___Winston_McKenzie_reveals_plan_to_get_Mayoral_campaign_back_on_track/?ref=mr&lp=11|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Police commissioners ===
====2012====
English Democrats contested five of the 41 of the [[2012 England and Wales Police and Crime Commissioner elections|Police and Crime Commissioner elections in November 2012]]. Results were:
{| class="wikitable"
! Police force !! Candidate !! 1st round votes !! % !! Posn/no. cands
|-
| [[Cambridgeshire Constabulary]] || Stephen Goldspink || 7,219 || 8.1% || 6 out of 7
|-
| [[Essex Police]] || [[Robin Tilbrook]] || 11,550 || 6.87% || 6 out of 6
|-
| [[Kent Police]] || Steven Uncles || 10,789 || 5.3% || 5 out of 6<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19546124 "Kent police and crime commissioner results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325113425/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19546124 |date=25 March 2018 }}, ''BBC News England'', 16 November 2012</ref>
|-
| [[Merseyside Police]] || Paul Rimmer || 7,142 || 5.7% || 6 out of 6<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-19551556 "Merseyside police and crime commissioner result"], ''BBC News Liverpool'', 16 November 2012</ref>
|-
| [[South Yorkshire Police]] || David Allen || 22,608 || 15.6% || 2 out of 5<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19549542 "South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008165416/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19549542 |date=8 October 2021 }}, ''BBC News England'', 16 November 2012</ref>
|}

====2014====
David Allen also contested the [[2014 South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner by-election|South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner by-election]] in October 2014.
{| class="wikitable"
! Police force !! Candidate !! 1st round votes !! % !! Posn/no. cands
|-
| [[South Yorkshire Police]] || David Allen || 8,583 || 5.8% || 4 out of 4<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.barnsley.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/councillors-democracy-and-elections/election-results/police-and-crime-commissioner-by-election-2014|title=Police and crime commissioner by-election 2014|work=barnsley.gov.uk|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126133227/https://www2.barnsley.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/councillors-democracy-and-elections/election-results/police-and-crime-commissioner-by-election-2014|archive-date=26 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

====2021====
The English Democrats contested two of the 39 of the [[2021 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections]]. Results were:
{| class="wikitable"
! Police force !! Candidate !! 1st round votes !! % !! Posn/no. cands
|-
| [[Bedfordshire Police]] || Antonio Daniel Vitiello || 3,387 || 2.8% || 5 out of 5
|-
| [[Essex Police]]  || [[Robin Tilbrook]] || 42,831 || 9.8% || 4 out of 4
|}

== Members holding local government seats ==
In November 2005, Paul Adams became the first elected English Democrats councillor at parish level for [[Crowborough]] Town Council in [[East Sussex]], polling 120 votes of 211 cast; he was returned in 2007 in an uncontested election. In 2011, he was elected as an independent, so the English Democrats lost the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Wealden/Your_Council/Democracy/Voting_and_Elections/Election_Results/Democracy_Election_Results.aspx|title=Election Results|publisher=Wealden District Council|access-date=3 August 2013|archive-date=14 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114112319/http://www.wealden.gov.uk/Wealden/Your_Council/Democracy/Voting_and_Elections/Election_Results/Democracy_Election_Results.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that year, Markyate Parish councillor Simon Deacon defected from the [[British National Party]], to the English Democrats, having been elected unopposed. However, he resigned in October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/english-democrats-loose-another-councillor/|title=English Democrats loose another councillor!|work=England Watch|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403032552/https://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/english-democrats-loose-another-councillor/|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The English Democrats gained another parish council seat when Mick Glynn was elected for the Dunsville ward of Hatfield Town Council, Doncaster. Following the resignation of Peter Davies, Glynn resigned his seat and membership of the party in February 2013.

The party had two district councillors elected (the first above parish level) in the 2011 local elections and obtained a further county council seat through the defection of a BNP, later "Independent Nationalist", councillor in Hertfordshire. However, the county councillor did not defend the seat in the [[2013 United Kingdom local elections|May 2013]] election, nor did the EDP put forward another candidate, losing them the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/GetResource.aspx?file=Statement_of_Persons_Nominated_for_Hertfordshire_County_Council_Elections_-_2_May_2013.pdf|title=Home|publisher=Three Rivers District Council}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The EDP lost one of its district councillors, Elliott Fountain, on 25 July 2013 after he failed to attend any meetings in six months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Absent-councillor-pound-7k-allowance-claim/story-19587114-detail/story.html#ixzz2av70XYUj|archive-date=3 August 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130803153748/http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Absent-councillor-pound-7k-allowance-claim/story-19587114-detail/story.html%23ixzz2av70XYUj|url-status=dead|title=Absent Boston councillor in £7k allowance claim|work=Boston Target|date=2 August 2013}}</ref> Following the [[2015 United Kingdom local elections|2015 local elections]], the English Democrats have no representation on any local authorities.

== Electoral fraud ==
In March 2017, Steven Uncles, the former regional chairman and candidate for the [[Kent Police and Crime Commissioner]] election, was imprisoned for seven months after he had completed County Council nomination forms using fake names such as "Anna Cleves" and "Rachelle Stevens", or real people who had not signed the relevant forms.<ref>Keith Hunt, [https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/far-right-activist-jailed-for-cheating-122138/ "Steve Uncles jailed after English Democrats regional leader submitted fake nomination forms"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021211836/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/far-right-activist-jailed-for-cheating-122138/ |date=21 October 2019 }}, ''Kent Online'', 13 March 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2019.</ref> He was subsequently expelled from the party for bringing it into disrepute.

== Party policies ==
It presents itself as an English equivalent to the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP),<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8274899.stm | work=BBC News | title=Democrats want to be 'English SNP' | date=25 September 2009 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-date=30 September 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930020456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8274899.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> although the SNP is generally considered to be a centre-left party<ref>{{cite book |author1=Robert Garner |author2=Richard Kelly |title=British Political Parties Today |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vCG8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA187 |date=15 June 1998 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-0-7190-5105-0 |page=187 }}<br />- {{cite book |author1=Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko |author2=Matti Mälkiä |title=Encyclopedia of Digital Government |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDrTMazYhdkC&pg=PA398 |year=2007 |publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI) |isbn=978-1-59140-790-4 |page=398 }}<br />- {{cite book |author-link1=Josep Colomer |author=Josep M. Colomer |title=Political Institutions in Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZF8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |date=25 July 2008 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-07354-2 |page=26 }}<br />- {{cite book |publisher=International Business Publications, USA |title=Scotland Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mDZbcAlOZ3QC&pg=PA29 |date=2012 |isbn=978-1-4387-7095-6 |page=29 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> whereas the English Democrats are on the right of the political spectrum. The English Democrats have accepted defectors from the far-right [[British National Party]] (BNP) into leadership roles and some former members of the party have criticised informal links with other [[Far-right politics|far-right]] organisations, although party leader [[Robin Tilbrook]] has stated that party members are expected to pledge their opposition to [[racism]].<ref>Ben Quinn, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/sep/25/english-democrats-electorally-credible-bnp "English Democrats could become 'electorally credible' as BNP decline"], ''The Guardian'', 26 September 2011<br />- {{cite web|last1=Young|first1=Gareth|title=English nationalism vs British nationalism|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/gareth-young/2009/05/16/english-nationalism-vs-british-nationalism|publisher=openDemocracy|access-date=3 October 2015|date=16 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="resignation"/>

=== An English Parliament, but no longer independence ===
The English Democrat leader frequently changes the party's constitutional offering. Since 2016, they propose creating a unified, devolved English parliament, within a federal UK, not an independent sovereign state. An English executive and first minister with the same powers as Scottish ones, and a reformed second chamber at Westminster. It proposes fiscal devolution so that the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliaments become responsible for financing their own expenditure.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=English Democrats |url=http://englishdemocrats.party/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/EDP-manifesto-September-2016-1.pdf |title=Manifesto |date=September 2016 |accessdate=3 December 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606013906/http://englishdemocrats.party/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/EDP-manifesto-September-2016-1.pdf |archivedate=6 June 2017}} ''(See para 3.22.)''</ref>

In 2006, the party rejected suggestions that non-English MPs in the House of Commons should be barred from voting on England-specific matters, on the basis that this would lead to there being, in effect, two parliaments in the same building and that this would be problematic.<ref>{{cite news |title=No English parliament – Falconer |website=BBC News |date=10 March 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4792120.stm |access-date=8 August 2007 |archive-date=14 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314110857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4792120.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

From March 2014 to the 2015 general election, the party chairman, Robin Tilbrook, had suggested [[English independence|England should become an independent country]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26583314 |title=English Democrats seek independence for England |website=BBC News |date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026122824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26583314 |url-status=live }}</ref> Temporarily rekindling its roots, his 2015 general election campaign launch was moved on from Traitors Gate (Tower of London), to the nearby ''Hung, Drawn and Quartered'' pub. Tilbrook accused various political parties of being traitors to the English (Labour, the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin), and the United Kingdom Independence Party "have no interest in England whatsoever". He said the party was "consolidating our position as the English nationalist party".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32221075 |title=English Democrats launch campaign with attack on 'traitors' |website=BBC News |date=8 April 2015}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
In the party's [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] manifesto, alongside campaigning for an independent England with an English parliament and English prime minister, the party also stated that immigration would come under the control of an English parliament. The party called for a points-style system based upon the Canadian and Australian models, and called for a withdrawal from the [[Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees|1951 Refugee Convention]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englishdemocrats.party/manifesto |title=English Democrats – Manifesto |date=2019 |publisher=English Democrats |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010600/https://www.englishdemocrats.party/manifesto |archive-date=31 March 2019 }}</ref>

=== Traditional counties ===
The party is supportive of [[Counties of the United Kingdom|historic counties]]. It has called for a referendum on whether [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] should be part of England rather than Wales.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manifesto of the English Democrats |website=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/EDP_uk_manifesto.pdf |access-date=8 March 2008 |archive-date=30 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230114017/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/EDP_uk_manifesto.pdf |url-status=live }}<br />- {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12726556 |title=English Democrats want vote on Monmouthshire Welshness |website=BBC News South West Wales |date=13 March 2011 |archive-date=28 November 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128110522/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12726556 |url-status=live }}</ref>

It contested the [[Monmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|constituency of Monmouth]] in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], receiving 100 votes (0.2% of votes cast).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/monmouth/ |title=UK Polling Report |website=UK Polling Report |access-date=22 May 2015 |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527134316/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/monmouth/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Nationalist connections==
On 17 November 2011, the chairman of the English Democrats, Robin Tilbrook, met Sergey Yerzunov, a member of the executive committee of the Russian right-wing group [[Russky Obraz]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rus-obraz.net/en/activity/252 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804024436/http://rus-obraz.net/en/activity/252|archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=Robin Tilbrook meets Russian Nationalists |publisher=Russky Obraz |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=June 2020}} Shortly afterwards, Obraz announced that it was in alliance with the English Democrats. Other members of this alliance include the Serbian [[Obraz (organization)|Obraz]], [[1389 Movement]], [[Golden Dawn (Greece)|Golden Dawn]], [[Party of the Danes|Danes' Party]], [[Slovenska Pospolitost]], [[Workers' Party (Czech Republic)|Workers' Party]] and [[Noua Dreaptă]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://right-world.net/en/countries/russia/obraz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323094714/http://www.right-world.net/en/countries/russia/obraz |archive-date=23 March 2015 |title=Russian Obraz |website=right-world.net|access-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=June 2020}}

In 2011, a number{{Vague|date=May 2025}} of former members of the BNP joined the party.<ref name=HNH/> Tilbrook was quoted as saying, of ex-BNP supporters, "They will help us become an electorally credible party. We need to be sure they ascribe to civic or cultural nationalism and that they will be an asset to our party, but we do not need to be too defensive."<ref name=HNH>{{cite web |title=English Democrats |url=http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/hate-groups/edp/ |work=[[Hope not Hate]] |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201031440/http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/hate-groups/edp/ |archive-date=1 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In an April 2013 interview, Tilbrook said that about 200–300 of the party's membership of 3,000 were former BNP members. He said it was "perfectly fair" that such people would "change their minds" and join a "moderate, sensible English nationalist party".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22268414 |work=BBC News |title='Up to one in 10' English Democrat members were in BNP |date=23 April 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110170025/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22268414 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===New England Party===
The New England Party was a local party in [[Dartford]] from March 2003 to February 2007, when it merged with the English Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/new-england-party/|title=New England Party|work=England Watch|date=28 August 2012|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200852/https://englandwatch.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/new-england-party/|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its leader, nominating officer and treasurer was Michael Tibby while Sheila Tibby was its campaigns officer.

Michael Tibby and Austen Brooker were councillors on [[Dartford (borough)|Dartford]] Borough Council between 2003 and 2007, representing [[Littlebrook]] and [[Newtown, Kent|Newtown]]. Tibby came second in Littlebrook in the 2003 local elections, while Brooker was elected as one of three [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] councillors for Newtown, but left Labour soon after his election in May 2003, initially as an independent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/archive/display.var.336929.0.councillor_defects_from_labour_group.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043224/http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/archive/display.var.336929.0.councillor_defects_from_labour_group.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|work=Hillingdon Times|title=Councillor defects from Labour group|date=20 May 2003 |first=Lucy |last=Brinicombe|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> Brooker stood down at the 2007 local elections and Tibby was unsuccessful in seeking re-election for the English Democrats, coming third.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://committeedmz.dartford.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=8|title=Election results for Littlebrook|work=Dartford Borough Council|date=May 2007|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415103948/http://committeedmz.dartford.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=8|url-status=live}}</ref>

Michael Tibby contested [[Dartford (UK Parliament constituency)|Dartford]] at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], receiving 1,224 votes (the elected Labour [[Member of Parliament|MP]], [[Howard Stoate]], received 19,909 votes). The party contested the Dartford Borough Council Heath ward by-election on 27 July 2006, polling 174 votes (9.6%). The candidate was Steven Uncles, who had been the English Democrats candidate in the [[2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election]].

The New England Party merged with the English Democrats in February 2007.<ref name=hnh>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/hate-groups/edp/|title=English Democrats Party|work=Hope Not Hate|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201031440/http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/hate-groups/edp/|archive-date=1 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishdemocrats.party/our-party/party-history/|title=Party History|publisher=English Democrats|date=2 September 2015|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606010606/http://englishdemocrats.party/our-party/party-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Reform UK Party===
{{distinguish|Reform UK}}
Reform UK Party<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reform-uk.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001220023100/http://www.reform-uk.org/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2000-12-20|title=Reform UK}}</ref> was a small UKIP splinter group of those opposing [[Nigel Farage]],<ref name=hnh/><ref>http://reformukfromukip.blogspot.co.uk/<br />- {{cite web|url=http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ukip-spoiler-parties.html|title=UKIP spoiler parties?|last=Tilbrook|first=Robin|date=May 2014|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415103900/http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ukip-spoiler-parties.html|url-status=live}}</ref> led by Harold Green from 2000 to 2004, when it merged with the English Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openelectoralcommission.org.uk/parties/PP22/reform-uk-party/|title=Reform UK Party|work=Open Electoral Commission|access-date=27 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415201146/http://openelectoralcommission.org.uk/parties/PP22/reform-uk-party/|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Green received 357 votes (0.9%) in [[Reigate (UK Parliament constituency)|Reigate]] in the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]] standing for Reform UK Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/475.stm|title=Results & Constituencies: Reigate|work=BBC News|date=May 2001|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415105128/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/475.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|England|Politics}}
* [[Alliance for Democracy (UK)|Alliance for Democracy]]
* [[English Democrats Party election results]]
* [[Parliament of England]]
* [[West Lothian question]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.englishdemocrats.party/ English Democrats official website]

{{Political parties in the United Kingdom}}
{{English nationalism}}
{{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}}
{{2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:English Democrats| ]]
[[Category:English nationalist parties]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties in England]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Essex]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2002]]
[[Category:Pro-independence parties]]
[[Category:Political parties in England]]
[[Category:2002 in British politics]]