The party was established in 1970 by Percival Austin Bramble,[1] son of Chief Minister and leader of the Montserrat Labour Party (MLP) William Henry Bramble.
[2] However, he subsequently broke away to form the PDP as a result of controversy over the number of holiday and retirement homes being built on the island.
Percival Austin Bramble became Chief Minister.
The PDP subsequently won five of the seven seats in the 1973 elections, but were defeated in the 1978 elections, when the People's Liberation Movement formed by former PDP minister John Osborne won all seven seats.
The PDP contested the 1983 elections, winning two seats in the Legislative Council.