The 'Commonwealth Labour Party' was a minor
political party in
Northern Ireland. The party was founded in
1942 by
Harry Midgley, former leader of the
Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP), in order to pursue his brand of labour
unionism. No longer in opposition to the
Ulster Unionist Party which dominated the legislature, Midgley was able to take ministerial posts. The party stood six candidates in the
1945 Northern Ireland general election, but only Midgely was successful. He also stood in
Belfast South in the
1945 UK general election, but was defeated by the Ulster Unionist. In
1947, Midgley disbanded the party and joined the Ulster Unionists.
The party should not be confused with the
Common Wealth Party.