Social Democratic Party (SDP) was a British political party from 1981 to 1990. The SDP claimed to represent moderate political opinion midway between extreme left-wing and right-wing views. For example, it supported a British economy in which private and state-owned industries both have a share.
Party policies.
The SDP officially advocated a number of general principles. It supported reform of the United Kingdom’s electoral system to make it more representative of the people’s political opinions. The party advocated greater power for local authorities and separate political assemblies for Scotland and Wales. It claimed that employers and employees should have equal roles in the running of industry. It supported maintaining and improving state-run social services and letting the people who use them have a greater share in their control. The SDP supported the promotion of equal rights for women and for ethnic and other minority groups. The SDP’s foreign and defense policies were based upon the United Kingdom’s membership of both the European Community (now the European Union) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Organization.
The main policy-making body of the SDP was the Council for Social Democracy. This council was elected by party members. At the local level, party organization was run by area parties covering from one to four constituencies. Election of a party leader and president was carried out in accordance with the SDP’s constitution. This document was adopted after a special constitutional conference held in February 1982.
History.
The SDP grew out of internal conflicts between left-wing and right-wing members in the Labour Party. As a result of the dispute, four moderate Labour Party members—Roy Jenkins, David Owen, William Rodgers, and Shirley Williams—formed a new political group called the Council for Social Democracy in January 1981. These four moderates later left the Labour Party and launched the Social Democratic Party in March 1981.
A number of sitting members of Parliament resigned from their parties and joined the SDP. In June 1981, the SDP formed an electoral alliance with the Liberal Party. In 1982, Roy Jenkins became the SDP’s first leader. In a general election in June 1983, the SDP won 6 seats out of a total of 23 seats won by the alliance. Soon afterward, David Owen became the SDP leader. In a general election in June 1987, the alliance won 22 seats. Jenkins, Rodgers, and Williams all lost their seats in Parliament. A members’ ballot soon after the election voted to discuss merger with the Liberal Party. Owen opposed the merger and resigned, vowing to work to keep the SDP’s independence. Robert Maclennan became the party’s leader and led the party into union with the Liberal Party. In 1988, the two parties formed the Social and Liberal Democratic Party (later renamed the Liberal Democrats). David Owen tried to maintain an independent SDP, but the party officially closed down in 1990.
See also Jenkins, Roy Harris ; Labour Party ; Liberal Democrats .
