the democratic labour party (dlp) was founded in 1955 by errol barrow and co-founded by fredrick smith. they were once members and candidates of the then ruling-party of barbados the barbados labour party (blp) from 1951 to 1955, these people and 29 more people broke away and stepped down as members and candidates of the barbados labour party (blp) to form his more left-winged and leaning social democratic alternative, the democratic labor party (dlp) to challenge the then-ruling barbados labour party in the 1956 barbadian general election. the democratic labour party (dlp) was a split form the democratic domain of the barbados labour party in 1955. however, as a result of this common orgin, the two parties have been and is still remaining until today, ideologically similar and has similar believes about governing the affairs of barbados. but the only difference between the two political parties of barbados the democratic labour party (dlp) and barbados labour party (blp), is that the democratic labour party (dlp) focuses more on democracy and on human rights, while the barbados labour party (blp) focuses more on republicanism and labour. the first leadership election was held in the democratic labour party (dlp) headquarters of st. george street in 1955, one day after the democratic labour party (dlp) was founded by errol barrow. errol barrow contested in that leadership election against co-founder of the democractic labour party (dlp), fredrick smith. it was a heated and close leadership election, and errol barrow defeated fredrick smith by a large margin of votes and errol barrow secured and won 49% of the vote, while fredrick smith secured and won 32% of the vote. barrow was sworn in as leader and president of the democratic labour party (dlp) and leader of the opposition the following day after the 1955 democratic labour party (dlp) leadership election. he appointed his central excutive comitee also.