Isolationist Party

The Isolationist Party was a major political party in Terran space formed in the late 25th century    

Origins

The Isolationist Party was formed during the time of the The Terran Empire as a radical right-wing party, opposed to "hostile alien influence" on the Terran people. It struggled to win seats during the days of the Imperial Parliament and initially struggled to win seats in the Republic but, over time, managed to carve out a niche as a conservative political party, often considered to be the most conservative in Terran politics  

Party Platform

The Isolationist Party platform, as of the 2540 election, was:

• Strong support for national defence
• Low taxes wherever possible
• Opposition to invasive alien influence
• Opposition to binding treaties
• Pro-Terran (though this does not mean pro-human)
• Protectionist on trade
• Generally opposed to centralization of power

Political scholars in the Republic considered the Isolationist platform to be the second most conservative in the 2540 election, behind Ravenheart.   Over time, the Isolationist Party abandoned its views on centralization of power, becoming a much more Federalist minded party.   In the late 26th and early 27th century, the increasing influence of a social conservative wing saw the party becoming more sceptical of AIs and psionics.

Leadership

The Isolationist Party is run from the top down with a chairman who is elected by the party's senior leadership, a somewhat elusive electoral college who get to vote on the new chairman. The chairman generally is in charge of fund-raising, strategy and candidate selection   The chairman also leads the Isolationist Party Strategic Council (IPSC) which includes the floor-leader from the General Assembly and other senior members of the party.  

Breakaway of Social Conservatives

In 2610, Baron Gaius Corvo broke away from the Isolationist Party to join Terra United. He took much of the party's social conservative wing with him.  

Electoral Performance

The Isolationist Party has generally been stronger in the Republic than in the Federation, though for a short while it did carve out a niche on Mars.   The Isolationist Party was part of a "joint-list with Valiant Party in 2530, 2540 and 2550.   The Isolationist Party entered into a "Joint List" with Onyx in 2600.

General Assembly

• 2510 Republic Election -10%
• 2520 Republic Election -22%
• 2530 Republic Elections -15%
• 2540 Republic Election -14%
• 2550 Republic Election -15%
• 2560 Republic Election -15%
• 2580 Republic Election - 12%
• 2590 Republic Election -13%
• 2600 Republic Election - 16%
• 2610 Republic Election - 7%

Senate

• 2510 - 0 Senators
• 2520 - 0 Senators
• 2530 - 0 Senators
• 2540 - 0 Senators
• 2550 - 5 Senators
• 2560 - 10 Senators
• 2580 - 14 Senators
• 2590 - 9 Senators
• 2600 - 11 Senators
• 2610 - 13 Senators

The last stand of the Isolationist Party

  After a disastrous 2620 convention, where most of the party heavyweights walked out and those who remained refused the nomination, the Isolationist Party ran a surprisingly nominated Representative Moscone.   Rep Moscone led a surprisingly muscular campaign, but the desertions of all the heavyweights hampered his efforts. The party achieved under 5% in the GA, which meant it did not get any seats. In the senate, what few senators were nominated or elected changed their allegiances to Heart Of Terra or the Imperial Party. Some, like Governor Weston, Hyco Tidell and Attorney General Ward Dutton remained political independants instead.