The party was founded in March 1960 by John E. Dayton,[1] a civil engineer living in Dorking, Surrey.
He described it as a party "neither of the extreme right nor left",[2] although The History of British Political Parties describes its main policy as British nationalism.
[3] Dayton stood as a candidate first in the 1960 Harrow West by-election,[2] at which he took 4.7% of the vote – which proved to be the party's highest ever share.
[3] Following this, he launched a party newsletter, Watching Brief, and then in November stood in the Bolton East by-election.
[1] However, Dayton founded the Patriotic Front for Political Action and stood in the 1961 Oswestry by-election, at which he took a 2.8% share.