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Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990)
Encyclopedia
The Social Democratic Party is a small political party
in the United Kingdom
. It traces its origin to the Social Democratic Party
that was formed in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party
politicians, all Members of Parliament
(MPs) or former MPs: Roy Jenkins
, David Owen
, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four".
The party is officially listed on the Register of Political Parties for England, Scotland and Wales. John Bates
is the party president. According to the accounts filed with the Electoral Commission
for the year ending 2008 it had 41 members.
, in 1990, a number of SDP activists met and voted to continue the party in defiance of the National Executive. The continuing group was led by Jack Holmes, whose defeat by the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
at a by-election in Bootle had caused the party's disgrace.
The much reduced SDP decided to fight the Neath by-election in 1991
. With Jack Holmes serving as the party's election agent, the SDP candidate finished fifth with 5.3% of the vote – only 174 votes behind the fourth placed Liberal Democrats. (The SDP candidate left the party and joined the LibDems shortly thereafter.) The Neath result proved that a greatly reduced SDP could continue to be a viable party without David Owen. The party subsequently won a number of seats on the Neath-Port Talbot County Borough Council.
The party is represented in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, where Councillor Ray Allerston holds one of the two seats in the 'Bridlington Central and Old Town' ward. Prior to her retirement in the 2007 local elections, Councillor Christine Allerston was the Mayor of Bridlington for 2005/2006. The party also has councillors on the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, holding all three of the seats on the ward for the town of Aberavon. Councillors Jeff Dinham, T John Sullivan and Anthony Taylor were elected with large majorities.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It traces its origin to the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
that was formed in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politicians, all Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MPs) or former MPs: Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
, David Owen
David Owen
David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen CH PC FRCP is a British politician.Owen served as British Foreign Secretary from 1977 to 1979, the youngest person in over forty years to hold the post; he co-authored the failed Vance-Owen and Owen-Stoltenberg peace plans offered during the Bosnian War...
, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four".
The party is officially listed on the Register of Political Parties for England, Scotland and Wales. John Bates
John Bates (SDP)
John Bates is the head of the British Social Democratic Party, holding the title of President.He replaced Jack Holmes as President in 1991 - who had himself replaced, the then Leader, David Owen.He is based in Morecambe, Lancashire.-References:...
is the party president. According to the accounts filed with the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
for the year ending 2008 it had 41 members.
From Bootle to Neath
After the dissolution of the second incarnation of the SDPSocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988)
A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
, in 1990, a number of SDP activists met and voted to continue the party in defiance of the National Executive. The continuing group was led by Jack Holmes, whose defeat by the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
at a by-election in Bootle had caused the party's disgrace.
The much reduced SDP decided to fight the Neath by-election in 1991
Neath by-election, 1991
The Neath by-election, 1991 was a by-election held on 4 April 1991 for the British House of Commons constituency of Neath in Wales. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Peter Hain.- Vacancy :...
. With Jack Holmes serving as the party's election agent, the SDP candidate finished fifth with 5.3% of the vote – only 174 votes behind the fourth placed Liberal Democrats. (The SDP candidate left the party and joined the LibDems shortly thereafter.) The Neath result proved that a greatly reduced SDP could continue to be a viable party without David Owen. The party subsequently won a number of seats on the Neath-Port Talbot County Borough Council.
1992 - present
Since 1992, the SDP has concentrated on campaigning at local level and on trying to build up support again largely from scratch. In more recent years it has held a few council seats in Yorkshire and South Wales.The party is represented in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, where Councillor Ray Allerston holds one of the two seats in the 'Bridlington Central and Old Town' ward. Prior to her retirement in the 2007 local elections, Councillor Christine Allerston was the Mayor of Bridlington for 2005/2006. The party also has councillors on the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, holding all three of the seats on the ward for the town of Aberavon. Councillors Jeff Dinham, T John Sullivan and Anthony Taylor were elected with large majorities.
See also
- Liberal Party (UK, 1989)Liberal Party (UK, 1989)The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
, the part of the Liberal party which did not join the Liberal Democrats.