Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party

The party was founded in 1946, during the first national elections, as the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). Its founders included Vere Bird, father of Lester. The ABLP later came to be seen as a political arm of the Bird family. With the exception of five years in the 1970s, the ABLP ruled Antigua and Barbuda for over four decades leading up to 2004. It was in the opposition from 2004 to 2014, and then returned to power in the 2014 general election. ^{[citation needed]}

Despite having been founded as a partisan expression of the labour movement in Antigua and Barbuda and having labour and social democratic origins,^[5] the party is generally considered as an economically liberal and fiscally conservative party,^[13][14] defender of a market-oriented economy and tax reductions, in particular rejecting the imposition of income tax.^[15] However, the party's policy of maintaining the public sector as the largest employer in Antigua and Barbuda during its successive governments (representing up to 40% of the workforce) has also led to the party being considered a guarantor of a "paternalistic conservatism" or "right-wing socialism".^[16][5][1] After the death of Elizabeth II of Antigua and Barbuda, the party went on to officially support the conversion of Antigua and Barbuda into a republic.^[17] The party is also against an Antiguan and Barbudan federation.^[3]

The party has a relatively progressive stance on LGBTQ rights in the country, with Browne repeatedly calling on LGBTQ voters in the country to support his party ahead of the 2026 election and accusing the UPP of homophobia.^[18][19] Browne's government appointed the first known LGBTQ rights activist to the Senate, Aziza Lake,^[20] and did not challenge a 2023 court ruling legalising same-sex sexual activity, with Browne stating: "[a]s a government, we have a constitutional responsibility to respect the rights of all and not to discriminate."^[21] This has caused significant tensions within the party however.^[22][23]

• Category:Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party politicians