1873: First UK Political Party Names Jan 31, 2019

The first two political parties in the UK, the Whigs and the Tories are both derived of Celtic pejoratives. In the case of 'Whig', the term comes from 'whiggamore' which was coined for the 'Whiggamore Raid': a march on Edinburgh by the Kirk Party during the 3rd English Civil War. 'Whiggamore' actually means 'mare drivers' though, but was nickname for those who were anti-parliamentarian, and generally protestant.

'Tory' (not the same as the contemporary Conservative and Unionist party, even if the nickname is still used) on the other hand comes from Irish 'toraidhe' meaning 'outlaw' referring to Irish highwaymen or Scottish marauders. This name was then first pejoratively, then officially applied to the political party because of their support of the Catholics, specifically under King James II, a Catholic.

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