Loony Bin

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party (OMRLP; Welsh: Plaid Swyddogol yr Anghenfilaidd Ddihirod Gwallgof, Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Oifigeil Gealtach a Bhios a' Rabadh Uilebheistean) is a satirical political party established in the United Kingdom in 1982 by the musician David Sutch, also known as Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow, or simply Lord Sutch. It is known for its deliberately bizarre policies and for fielding novelty candidates to offer itself as an alternative for protest voters, especially in constituencies where the party holding a safe seat is unlikely to lose it. In 1997 their leader Alan "Howling Laud" Hope was elected unopposed to Ashburton Town Council in Devon. In 1999 Hope moved to Hampshire, where he became a member of Fleet council, once again uncontested. Since its founding the party has participated in 11 general elections, although it has not won representation in UK Parliament.