- Cecil G. Murgatroyd
Cecil G. Murgatroyd (1958-2001) was a long-running satirical political candidate in
Australia andNew Zealand and heldcitizenship . He also ran for parliament in both countries, often running against thePrime Minister of the time (a seat traditionally popular with protest party and joke party candidates). At various times he has run under the banner of theMcGillicuddy Serious Party and theImperial British Conservative Party .Murgatroyd's platforms were typically absurdistic and of a pataphysical nature, though a common theme was a return to archaic institutions or forms of society. During the republican debate, he ran on a platform of restoring the
British Empire . During the republic referendum, he advocated adoptingPrincess Anne , a member of the British royal family, as Australia's own resident monarch (a concept known ascadet monarchy , which existed in theEmpire of Brazil in the 19th century). Subsequently, he ran on a pseudo-religious "Holy Prophet" platform for the Senate.Murgatroyd's campaign in
Australia againstBob Hawke , and his political activity inNew Zealand with theMcGillicuddy Serious Party , are mentioned in the bookHow To Make Trouble And Influence People .He was a gifted musician, and formed 'The Other Wankers' in 1988; a band that promoted masturbation as the only really safe sex. He was also a member of New Zealand's
Big Muffin Serious Band , a band including several other members of the McGillicuddy Serious Party.A biography, 'The Life and Times of Cecil G Murgatroyd' was published in 2003 by Spit the Dummy Press.
External links
* [http://thingy.apana.org.au/~murgatroyd/ Murgatroyd's web site]
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