[1] Its founders, Joses Tuhanuku and Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, were trade union leaders, with Tuhanuku heading the Solomon Islands General Workers' Union.
It won four seats in the 1997 elections, in which it was part of the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change.
The alliance parties won a narrow majority in Parliament and Ulufa'alu became prime minister.
The alliance lost power as a result of the 2001 elections, which saw it win only 12 of the 50 seats, of which the SILP took two.
The party won two seats in the 2006 elections, and one in the 2010 elections, with Prime Minister Derek Sikua being its sole successful candidate in North East Guadalcanal.