| Founded by former Chief Minister and LF leader David Marshall, it is the oldest opposition party today. After Marshall resigned on 19 January 1963, it was left with only a handful of members. In July 1971, a large group headed by J. B. Jeyaretnam revived it. Ten years later, Jeyaretnam broke PAP's monopoly in Parliament to become the first elected opposition MP in 15 years. He remained secretary-general until 27 May 2001 and resigned on 22 October 2001 owing to differences with younger leaders. From there, he was succeeded by Low Thia Khiang, a veteran opposition MP, who was in 2003 joined by Sylvia Lim, WP's first woman chairman and female NCMP. In the GE of 2011, it broke through a GRC, the first time for the opposition, and won six seats, the highest number since BS in 1963. |
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