Ralph Thorne

Ralph Thorne
Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
12 February 2024
Prime MinisterMia Mottley
Preceded byJoseph Atherley (2022)
Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
Assumed office
19 February 2024
Preceded byRonnie Yearwood
Member of Parliament
for Christ Church South
Assumed office
24 May 2018
Prime MinisterMia Mottley
Preceded byJohn D. E. Boyce
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic Labour Party (2024–)
Other political
affiliations
Barbados Labour Party (Until February 2024)

Ralph Thorne KC, MP is a Barbadian politician and lawyer who has served as Leader of the Opposition since 2024. He was elected in 2018 as a candidate of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) for Christ Church South on 24 May 2018.[1] He later crossed the floor and became an independent in February 2024 [2] which made him the leader of the opposition upon defection as the BLP had held all seats in the lower house up until that point. He was sworn in on 12 February 2024.[3] On 19 February, Thorne was proclaimed as political leader of the Democratic Labour Party, while Ronnie Yearwood remained president of the party until his ousting from the party in August later that year.[4] Thorne's move has returned the DLP to the House of Assembly for the first time since 2018.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Member Details". www.barbadosparliament.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ Clarke, Sherrylyn (10 February 2024). "Ralph Thorne crosses the floor and is new Opposition Leader". nationnews.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  3. ^ "WATCH: Ralph Thorne sworn in | Loop Barbados". Loop News. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  4. ^ slegallgibson (16 August 2024). "Dr. Ronnie Yearwood and Steve Blackett expelled from the DLP". Starcom Network. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  5. ^ @KevzPolitics (19 February 2024). "#BREAKING - CBC: Barbados Leader of Opposition Ralph Thorne announced as the new Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party - granting the party its first seat in Parliament since 2018. Dr Ronnie Yearwood will remain DLP President" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
2024-present
Succeeded by
Incumbent