10 members of the Central executive of the PUP, led by Leigh Richardson and Phillip Goldson, resigned and vowed to form their own political party.
They included: As the HIP prepared to contest the 1957 general election, Belizeans had a few questions for them.
If the party wanted independence, even eventually as the name suggested, why split with the PUP in the first place?
A puzzled electorate offered nearly 18% of its votes, but no seats, to the new party, placing them second behind the victorious PUP.
The details were worked out in early summer, and the HIP was dissolved on June 25, 1958 (one day before the NP) and merged to form the National Independence Party (Belize) on July 1.