Barbados Labour Party
The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), colloquially known as the "Bees", is a social democratic political party in Barbados established in 1938. It has been in power in 1954–1961, 1976–1986, 1994–2008, and 2018–present. Its leaders have included Grantley Adams and Owen Arthur.
Barbados Labour Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Mia Mottley MP |
| Founder | Sir Grantley Adams |
| Founded | 31 March 1938 (As the Barbados Progressive League) |
| Headquarters | Grantley Adams House, 111 Roebuck Street, Bridgetown |
| Youth wing | League of Young Socialists |
| Ideology | Social democracy Republicanism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colours | Red and Gold |
| House of Assembly | 29 / 30 |
| Senate | 12 / 21 |
| Website | |
| www.blp.org.bb | |
| |
Now led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, it is the governing party of Barbados, holding 29 out of 30 seats.
In common with Barbados' other major party, the Democratic Labour Party or the "Dems", the BLP has been broadly described as a centre-left social-democratic party, with local politics being largely personality-driven and responsive to contemporary issues and the state of the economy. However, the party distinguishes itself by being rooted in Asquithian Liberal policies, including a focus on trade as a way of bolstering economic growth over the creation of social services.
The BLP is a former observer member of the Socialist International.