2008 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 15 January 2008.^[1] A concurrent referendum to determine whether or not to become a republic was initially planned but vote was postponed.^[2][3]

2008 Barbadian general election

← 2003 15 January 2008 2013 →
30 seats in the House of Assembly 16 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	63.54% (6.66%)
First party Second party   Leader David Thompson Owen Arthur Party DLP BLP Leader's seat St. John St. Peter Last election 7 seats 23 seats Seats won 20 10 Seat change 13 13 Popular vote 77,681 69,720 Percentage 52.55% 47.16% Swing 8.46% 8.64%
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election Owen Arthur Barbados Labour Party Elected Prime Minister David Thompson DLP

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which had been in opposition since 1994, won with 20 seats to 10 seats for the Barbados Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Owen Arthur. Recounts were held in some constituencies due to close results.^[4]

On 11 September 2008 Hamilton Lashley MP, for St. Michael South-East announced he would cross the floor and no longer be a member of the Barbados Labour Party, but would instead become an independent. His defection brought the BLP as Opposition down to nine seats for the remainder of the Parliamentary session.^[5] He later decided to join the ruling DLP party.

DLP chairman David Thompson was sworn in as Prime Minister on 16 January.^[1] After David Thompson died in October 2010 a by-election was held in January 2011 to fill his vacant seat for St. John.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Labour Party	77,681	52.55	20	+13
	Barbados Labour Party	69,720	47.16	10	–13
	People's Empowerment Party	235	0.16	0	New
	People's Democratic Congress	46	0.03	0	New
	Independents	144	0.10	0	0
Total		147,826	100.00	30	0
Valid votes		147,826	98.79
Invalid/blank votes		1,807	1.21
Total votes		149,633	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		235,510	63.54
Source: Electoral Department, Election Passport