Ralph Thorne
Ralph Thorne | |
|---|---|
| File:Ralph Thorne MP 2019 (cropped).jpg | |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| Assumed office 12 February 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
| Preceded by | Joseph Atherley (2022) |
| Leader of the Democratic Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 19 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ronnie Yearwood |
| Member of the House of Assembly of Barbados for Christ Church South | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
| Preceded by | John D. E. Boyce |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic Labour |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (until February 2024) |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Cornelius |
| Children | 3 |
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Ralph Thorne KC, MP[1] is a Barbadian lawyer and politician who is the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of Barbados as a member of the Democratic Labour Party. He has served the House of Assembly for Christ Church South since 2018.
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Ralph Thorne attended Grace Hill Primary School.[2]
Career
[edit | edit source]Legal
[edit | edit source]Throne was a Queen's Counsel and was the lead defence attorney for Michael Misick in his corruption trial. He operates his own law firm.[3] Neil Rowe, a member of the Parliament of Barbados who was accused of rape, was defended by Thorne[4] and found not guilty in 2025.[5]
Politics
[edit | edit source]Thorne was initially a member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and ran for parliament with their nomination twice, but left to join the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).[6][7] In the 2018 election, in which the BLP won every seat, Thorne was elected to the House of Assembly of Barbados for Christ Church South as a member of the BLP.[3]
The BLP won every seat again in the 2022 election. Thorne crossed the floor and became leader of the opposition.[8] He rejoined the DLP and was selected to be its leader.[9] Thorne appointed Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson, both members of the DLP, to the seats reserved for the opposition in the Senate of Barbados before he rejoined the DLP himself.[7][10]
During Thorne's tenure in parliament he chaired the Thorne Commission on Local Government which was charged with establishing People’s Assemblies, a form of local government.[11]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Thorne married Jacqueline Cornelius, with whom he had three children. Jacqueline is a High Court judge.[3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Member Details.
- ^ Ralph Thorne: Prepared to serve 2018.
- ^ a b c Boyce 2018.
- ^ Wedderburn 2023.
- ^ Former deputy speaker in Barbados found not guilty of rape 2025.
- ^ Blunt 2024.
- ^ a b DLP: Thorne doesn’t speak for us 2024.
- ^ Clarke 2024.
- ^ DLP confirms Ralph Thorne as political leader and new member 2024.
- ^ Walters, Watson get Senate opposition seats 2024.
- ^ More ‘power to the people’ with Thorne Commission 2019.
Works cited
[edit | edit source]News
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Web
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