Ralph Thorne
Ralph Thorne | |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Political party | Democratic Labour |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (Until February 2024) |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Cornelius |
| Children | 3 |
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
Ralph Thorne attended Grace Hill Primary School.[2]
Career
Legal
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
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
Thorne married Jacqueline Cornelius, with whom he had three children. Jacqueline is a High Court judge.[3]
References
- ^ 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
News
- "DLP confirms Ralph Thorne as political leader and new member". Barbados Today. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- "DLP: Thorne doesn't speak for us". Barbados Today. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- "Former deputy speaker in Barbados found not guilty of rape". The Gleaner. 7 May 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- "More 'power to the people' with Thorne Commission". Barbados Today. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- "Ralph Thorne: Prepared to serve". The Nation Barbados. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- Blunt, Shamar (14 February 2024). "DLP: Thorne doesn't speak for us". Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- Blunt, Shamar (10 February 2024). "Political scientist not surprised by Ralph Thorne's move to opposition". Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- Boyce, Hayden (18 June 2018). "Ralph Thorne, former lead lawyer for Mike Missick elected to Barbados Parliament". Turks and Caicos Sun. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- Clarke, Sherrylyn (10 February 2024). "Ralph Thorne crosses the floor and is new Opposition Leader". The Nation Barbados. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
- Wedderburn, Fernella (7 September 2023). "MP's rape case committed for trial before judge and jury". Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
Web
- "Member Details". Parliament of Barbados. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025.