Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the Parliamentary Conservative Party. The party was been formed in 1906 in order to overturn Progressive and Labour control of much of London municipal government. It incorporated the Moderate Party, who had formed previous opposition to the Progressives on the county council.
The first elections for which the Municipal Reform Party stood were those to Metropolitan Borough councils, on 1 November 1906. The campaign was very successful, with Municipal Reformers winning control of twenty-two of twenty-eight councils. Following this success, the Party published a manifesto for the 1907 London County Council election. Policies included: tight controls on financial expenditure, proper auditing of municipal accounts, creation of a traffic board to coordinate transport in the capital, support of electricity provision by private enterprise and an education policy favouring denominational schools. The manifesto proved a success and the party took power from the Progressives.
They remained in power until 1934 when the Labour Party gained control of the Council. Between 1934 and 1946 the Municipal Reform Party formed the opposition on the council. From 1946 onwards Conservative candidates replaced the Municipal Reform Party.