The creation of the party was attributed to the British colonial authorities.[1] Through the launching the Socialist Republican Party the Sudan Political Service (a British colonial government institution) sought to win support from Khatimyya voters in order to counter the influence of al-Mahdi.[2][13][14] The open support from the British authorities did, however, render the party unpopular amongst the Sudanese population in general. The Umma Party refused any cooperation with it.[5] By January 1952 it had gained the nickname 'Mr. Hawkesworth's Party' by the Sudanese, playing on the perception that the party had been engineered by the Assistant Civil Secretary (Political) Desmond Hawkesworth.[6][15] Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi perceived the party as a British conspiracy and an immediate threat to his political life, and set out to destroy it.[15] As a result of the pressure from Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi, several nazirs left the party and rejoined the Umma Party.[16]