The British Virgin Islandsgeneral election, 1975 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 1 September 1975. The result was one of the most confused in the Territory's history, but is officially recorded as a victory for the United Party led by Willard Wheatley over the oppositionVirgin Islands Party led by former Chief MinisterLavity Stoutt. In reality the election provided no clear consensus, and as soon as the election was over successful candidates dumped their prior allegiances and tried to broker deals that would enable them to secure power. At the end of this process Willard Wheatley retained his role as Chief Minister and led a coalition loosely affiliated to the United Party. But as has been recorded:
Background
The 1975 general election was something of a dangerous crossroad for British Virgin Islands politics. The first party political election in 1967 had been won by the United Party. However, internal struggles relating to who should be leader led to the party fragmenting before the next election. That allowed the opposition VI Democratic Party to win the 1971 election, but exactly the same thing would happen to them: disagreements between party leader Q.W. Osborne and Chief Minister Willard Wheatley led Wheatley to remove Osborne from his Ministerial seat. The resulting discord meant that, despite technically being the party in power, the VI Democratic Party did not actually promote any candidates at all for the 1975 election - Wheatley left to form an alliance with the United Party, and Osborne left to join the Virgin Islands Party.
Results and notable candidates
won the election in a coalition with the United Party. The exact electoral mechanics appear to be unclear: although the United Party only won two seats - fewer than the Virgin Islands Party - but it appears that Wheatley was able to assemble a coalition and remain Chief Minister and at the head of government. Curiously however, Austin Henley was a former member of the VI Democratic Party, but ran as a United Party candidate. But it appears that he may have left the party again shortly after the election as he was named Leader of the Opposition. Henley would later die in office, and Oliver Cills continued as Leader of the Opposition. Both Henley and Cills were recorded as members of the VI Democratic Party whilst Leaders of the Opposition. Notable candidates elected for the first time included future Chief Minister and Premier, Ralph T. O'Neal.
