Ralph Thorne | |
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Leader of the Opposition | |
Assumed office 12 February 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
Preceded by | Joseph Atherley (2022) |
Leader of the Democratic Labour Party | |
Assumed office 19 February 2024 | |
Preceded by | Ronnie Yearwood |
Member of Parliament for Christ Church South | |
Assumed office 24 May 2018 | |
Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
Preceded by | John D. E. Boyce |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic 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]