The party's logo, the head of a medieval court jester, indicated the intention to critique current systems by poking fun at them.

The features of this plan were: Funism (a doctrine of the most fun for the most people), The Great Leap Backwards (returning NZ to a medieval, subsistence, tribal economy) and replacing parliament with a McGillicuddy-style monarchy based on Jacobitism: a non-hereditary monarch would be appointed in a similar manner to that used to determine the Dalai Lama.

MCGSP candidates, rallies and publicity stunts were characterised by the use of costume, hand-made props, live music and/or performance art.

[12] The introduction of MMP Mixed Member Proportional representation at the 1996 election changed the political landscape: there were more smaller parties to vote for with more of a chance of getting into Parliament.

In addition to this, the increased reporting required from small parties under MMP changed the 'work to fun ratio'[13] of taking part in elections.

In July 2005 a "McGillicuddy Serious Party" put out a press-release announcing plans to participate in the 2005 election, one initial policy involving replacing MPs with harmless jargon-generators.

[19] One candidate stood under the McGillicuddy Serious banner in the 2008 general election: Steve Richards contested the West Coast-Tasman electorate and received 259 votes.

A pacifist battle in Oamaru on 31 December 2007 saw McGillicuddy "Martians" take on Alf's Imperial Army in an enactment of The War of the Worlds.