Business and Professional Group

Defunct Irish political party

The Business and Professional Group (also known as the Businessmen's Party) was a minor political party in the Irish Free State that existed between 1922 and 1923. It largely comprised ex-Unionist businessmen and professionals.[1]

It fielded five candidates in Dublin and Cork at the 1922 general election. One candidate, Michael Hennessy, was elected.[1] At the 1923 general election, company directors John Good and William Hewat were elected in Dublin under the label of Businessmen's Party.[1] Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Richard Beamish were elected under the label of Cork Progressive Association (CPA). Both CPA members however sat in the Dáil Éireann as independent and in 1924 both took the Cumann na nGaedheal party whip.[2]

The group's support base was largely Protestant; its policies were pro-Treaty and pro-economic orthodoxy, including low taxes and the Treasury view.[1] It did not contest any general elections after 1923.[1]

General election results

Election Seats won ± Position First Pref votes % Government
1922
1 / 128
Increase1 Increase5th 14,542 2.3% Opposition
1923
2 / 153
Increase1 Steady5th 9,648 0.9% Opposition

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Barberis, McHugh and Tyldesley (2005), p. 206
  2. ^ John M. Regan, The Irish Counter-Revolution 1921-1936, Gill & Macmillan, 1999, p. 223

Sources

  • Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike (2005). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organisations. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8264-5814-8.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Defunct political parties in Ireland
to 1918
Home Rule/Nationalist
Unionist
Pan-UK parties
  • Radicals
  • Tories
  • Whigs
post 1918
Communist and far-left
Socialist and left-wing
Republican and nationalist
Liberal
Agrarian
Conservative and right-wing
Christian right
Unionist
Far-right
Other


Stub icon

This article about a political party from the Republic of Ireland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e