36:
497:– traditionally one of Labour's safest seats nationally. The little media attention that the by-election attracted was focussed on a bizarre row between Labour and the Raving Loonies. Relations between the Labour Party and the Loonies had never been good, but they reached a new low when the Labour agent tried erroneously to have the Loony candidate, party leader
146:
521:
A number of SDP members, however, accused the party's
National Executive of arranging the Bootle disaster as a “get-out clause” so that they could resurrect their political careers within the Conservative or Labour Parties. In a repeat of the events of 1988, a number of SDP activists met days after
376:
in 1989 was held behind closed doors without the usual television coverage to conceal the rows of empty seats. A shortage of members left the party exposed to electoral embarrassment if it stood candidates in areas where there was a lack of activists to bring out the vote. Owen later admitted that
607:
either as 'continuing' Social
Democrats or as Liberal Democrats. Cartwright and Barnes were allowed under Electoral Broadcasting rules to address the whole country in a joint Party Political Broadcast. Both narrowly lost their seats to Labour, which made substantial efforts to win them back.
388:
later described by one commentator as "the intellectual legacy of the
Owenite rump of the SDP". The SMF was formed primarily as a vehicle for Owen's 'social market' economic ideas, and Owen himself became one of the Foundation's trustees upon its launch. The SMF's first executive director,
316:— did not join the SLD, opting instead to create a new 'continuing' Social Democratic Party. They were joined by a minority of former members of the original SDP. The new party was not alone in having members who rejected the merger with the Liberal Party to form the SLD: among Liberals,
534:
Senior members of the 'continuing' SDP scattered in different directions following its dissolution. The party's three MPs all continued to sit as "Independent Social
Democrats", although none of them were to join Holmes's new SDP. A number of peers, such as Lord Kilmarnock and
1208:
In 1990 four 'continuing' SDP councillors were elected in Abbey Wood and
Eynsham wards, alongside two Lib Dems who were elected elsewhere in the borough. All four SDP councillors were re-elected as Social Democrats in 1994. See Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher,
513:, and the SDP suffered even worse publicity than Labour. Within a week of the result, Owen announced that the party's National Executive had voted to dissolve the party, saying that it could not possibly continue after finishing behind the Raving Loonies.
602:
respectively. The
Liberal Democrats did not run candidates against them, and helped them with their campaigns. The new SDP, now led by John Bates, also aided both MPs in their bids for re-election, as did those councillors who had been elected to
453:, it was, and remains, extremely rare for a party from elsewhere in Britain to contest elections in Northern Ireland. The SDP nominated its own candidate, despite having virtually no local organisation, and finished last with only 154 votes.
543:. As mentioned above, many of those close to Owen who were involved in the SMF subsequently became associated with the Conservatives. Others, however, joined – or in many cases re-joined – the Labour Party, most notably David Sainsbury,
363:
chain of supermarkets. Secondly, its members regarded David Owen as a charismatic leader who looked and acted the part of a potential Prime
Minister. The party also held the allegiance of seventeen members of the
1233:
377:
the party's initial estimate of 25,500 "committed" members had proved to be inaccurate, and that had he been aware of the actual figure of 11,000 from the start he would not have formed the new party.
53:
951:
1253:
617:
1248:
1243:
254:
1197:
the three dukes among Ukip's patrons – Somerset, Rutland and the late
Devonshire, as well as the Earl of Bradford and Lord Neidpath, heir to the earldom of Wemyss
523:
24:
1238:
100:
356:
72:
594:. John Cartwright and Rosie Barnes stood under the "Independent Social Democrat" banner they had adopted in the House of Commons, defending their seats in
229:
486:
had won the party its first seat there. However, the party found itself unable to get any significant media attention, vital to compensate for a lack of
19:
This article is about the UK Social
Democratic Party which existed between 1988 and 1990. For the original Social Democratic party founded in 1981, see
575:, the former chair of the SDP peers – gravitated towards the Liberal Democrats, while the party's relative Euroscepticism prompted others, such as the
79:
576:
560:
372:. But despite an energetic tour of the nation's university campuses by Owen, the party remained very short of active members. A party conference at
997:
410:
86:
599:
536:
501:, arrested for breaking an electoral law that had been changed in 1987. He attempted to have Sutch charged with the former offence of using a
595:
539:, essentially pursued the same strategy in the Lords, continuing to describe themselves as "Social Democrats" or "SDP" while sitting on the
509:’s Killjoys" for the campaign's duration. In the event, when the votes were counted the SDP candidate, Jack Holmes, finished far behind the
68:
591:
556:
510:
479:
468:
433:, held in a constituency where it had an energetic branch and strong local support, the new SDP took second place behind Tory candidate
390:
340:
332:
831:
773:
446:
1018:
744:
430:
394:
380:
In addition to its political activity, the 'continuing' SDP also played host to many of the individuals who in 1989 established the
369:
308:(SLD) party thus gained all of the records and assets of the original SDP. However, three sitting SDP members of parliament — Owen,
119:
802:
604:
572:
552:
309:
405:
on the social market economy for the party's first conference in
September 1988. Two other directors of the SMF, Rick Nye and
686:
450:
93:
57:
462:
266:
179:
172:
20:
1210:
889:
715:
657:
568:
564:
548:
442:
234:
351:
The post-merger 'continuing' SDP had two major advantages over the Social and Liberal Democrats (later known as the
1176:
413:, who was the Foundation's Head of Research in the mid-1990s. When the SMF became more closely associated with the
224:
526:. This group was led by Jack Holmes, whose defeat by the Raving Loonies at Bootle had ensured the party's demise.
46:
414:
285:
860:
381:
328:
321:
563:(who had left the new party as early as 1989, attracted by Labour's change of policy on issues concerning the
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505:
as an election campaign headquarters. The main by-election headlines in the tabloid newspapers referred to "
418:
1180:
522:
the National Executive had voted for dissolution and, in defiance of the Executive, voted to create a new
352:
305:
911:
584:
417:
following the 'continuing' SDP's demise in 1990, Skidelsky, Finkelstein, Cooper and Nye all joined the
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looked like fertile territory for the SDP – the local Labour Party had faced major problems with the
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401:, who was responsible for much of the 'continuing' SDP's economic policy, having written a
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The party was formed after the first incarnation of the SDP, created in 1981 by the "
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437:, who retained the seat for his party. Shortly afterwards, it contested a seat in
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some years before, subsequent boundary changes had incorporated parts of the
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The level of political apathy was high, and Bootle was known to be a Labour
449:. The Liberal Democrats continued this policy in Upper Bann. Apart from the
487:
472:
393:, was one of the post-merger SDP peers, while its chairman from 1991 was
200:
265:, which lasted for only two years. A successor party to the original
145:
1058:
Robin Oakley, "A few problems with party's 'very own big idea'",
327:
The 'continuing' SDP was dissolved in 1990 in the aftermath of a
445:. Previously, the SDP-Liberal Alliance had given support to the
210:
502:
409:, had both been employed as Owen's political advisers, as had
214:
29:
335:, in which the party's candidate received fewer votes than
1029:
Richard Cockett, "Off-the-peg policies to suit the Left",
1211:"London Borough of Greenwich Election Results 1964-2010"
1234:
Defunct social democratic parties in the United Kingdom
1123:
Patrick Wintour, "SDP peer defects to Labour Party",
618:
Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988) election results
206:
194:
178:
168:
160:
152:
134:
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1110:Patrick Wintour, "Owenites ready to back Tories",
23:. For the present day active political party, see
355:). Firstly, it enjoyed the financial support of
1071:Michael White, "Children of the Gang of Four",
304:into a full merger of the two parties. The new
16:Political party in the United Kingdom (1988–90)
8:
1254:1990 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
571:). Only a select few members – most notably
320:led a breakaway faction which created a new
69:"Social Democratic Party" UK, 1988–1990
1041:
1039:
923:
626:
292:, all dissident former ministers from the
144:
131:
25:Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)
1249:1988 establishments in the United Kingdom
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1244:Political parties disestablished in 1990
1097:"Obituaries: Lord Wilson of Langside",
998:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
984:
269:(SDP), it was known informally as the '
547:, and several prominent peers such as
1239:Political parties established in 1988
7:
1013:(London: Penguin, 1992), pp. 742-3.
397:, Professor of Political Economy at
58:adding citations to reliable sources
511:Official Monster Raving Loony Party
341:Official Monster Raving Loony Party
1149:"Obituary: Lord Taylor of Gryfe",
447:Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
14:
605:Greenwich London Borough Council
34:
1136:"What do they stand for now?",
1084:"Obituaries: Lord Kilmarnock",
482:into Bootle – nine years after
384:(SMF), an influential centrist
45:needs additional citations for
1162:"Obituaries: Lord Aylestone",
173:Social Democratic Party (1981)
1:
583:, to eventually support the
463:Bootle by-election, May 1990
431:Richmond by-election of 1989
306:Social and Liberal Democrats
21:Social Democratic Party (UK)
1270:
1217:. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
1062:, 20 September 1988, p. 4.
615:
460:
441:for the first time in the
225:Politics of United Kingdom
18:
1114:, 12 February 1992, p. 1.
1101:, 1 December 1997, p. 25.
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590:Owen did not contest the
220:
143:
561:Lord Young of Dartington
382:Social Market Foundation
1140:, 16 April 1990, p. 11.
1088:, 24 March 2009, p. 55.
537:Lord Wilson of Langside
524:Social Democratic Party
267:Social Democratic Party
253:) formed in 1988 was a
247:Social Democratic Party
196:Political position
137:Social Democratic Party
1153:, 19 July 2001, p. 29.
1033:, 8 August 1994, p. 8.
457:The Bootle by-election
443:Upper Bann by-election
1127:, 14 June 1989, p. 6.
592:1992 general election
585:UK Independence Party
296:), voted to turn its
1166:, 2 May 1994, p. 17.
1075:, 14 April 1997, B8.
557:Lord Taylor of Gryfe
499:Screaming Lord Sutch
337:Screaming Lord Sutch
324:the following year.
54:improve this article
781:David Keith Davies
579:and the future MEP
480:Crosby constituency
318:Michael Meadowcroft
920:European elections
577:Duke of Devonshire
451:Conservative Party
419:Conservative Party
407:Daniel Finkelstein
399:Warwick University
298:electoral alliance
976:
975:
917:
916:
832:Mid Staffordshire
774:Vale of Glamorgan
749:23 February 1989
720:23 February 1989
691:15 December 1988
517:Another breakaway
476:Militant tendency
374:Paisley Town Hall
353:Liberal Democrats
243:
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230:Political parties
185:Social liberalism
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993:Stedman, Phyllis
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745:Richmond (Yorks)
694:Michael Pettman
627:
612:Election results
490:at local level.
484:Shirley Williams
439:Northern Ireland
415:Major Government
395:Robert Skidelsky
370:Baroness Stedman
290:Shirley Williams
189:Social democracy
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1047:Time to Declare
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391:Lord Kilmarnock
359:, owner of the
357:David Sainsbury
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347:Post-merger SDP
310:John Cartwright
271:continuing' SDP
255:political party
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169:Split from
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807:15 June 1989
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662:14 July 1988
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630:Constituency
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545:Polly Toynbee
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435:William Hague
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411:Andrew Cooper
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71: –
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65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
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43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
26:
22:
1214:
1204:
1196:
1189:. Retrieved
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1138:The Guardian
1137:
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1125:The Guardian
1124:
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1112:The Guardian
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1073:The Guardian
1072:
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1030:
1025:
1010:
1009:David Owen,
1005:
996:
987:
894:24 May 1990
868:Jack Holmes
865:24 May 1990
767:Conservative
752:Mike Potter
709:Conservative
680:Conservative
665:John Martin
623:By-elections
589:
549:Lord Diamond
541:crossbenches
533:
520:
503:public house
492:
466:
428:
425:By-elections
379:
350:
326:
314:Rosie Barnes
294:Labour Party
286:Bill Rodgers
278:Gang of Four
275:
270:
250:
246:
244:
116:
110:January 2008
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
810:Peter Kerr
778:4 May 1989
553:Lord Kennet
403:green paper
329:by-election
282:Roy Jenkins
1228:Categories
1181:"Notebook"
979:References
890:Upper Bann
716:Pontypridd
658:Kensington
636:Candidate
581:Julia Reid
467:On paper,
386:think tank
263:David Owen
80:newspapers
1164:The Times
1099:The Times
1086:The Times
1060:The Times
1049:, p. 802.
1031:The Times
839:Ian Wood
649:Position
641:of votes
600:Greenwich
495:safe seat
488:activists
368:, led by
361:Sainsbury
300:with the
280:" (Owen,
235:Elections
161:Dissolved
1191:16 April
1187:. London
943:Position
932:of votes
596:Woolwich
587:(UKIP).
473:entryist
180:Ideology
164:May 1990
946:Winner
755:16,909
652:Winner
569:Trident
530:The end
507:Kinnock
429:In the
261:led by
257:in the
207:Colours
153:Founded
94:scholar
1045:Owen,
1017:
971:Labour
956:75,886
930:Number
883:Labour
861:Bootle
854:Labour
842:1,422
825:Labour
796:Labour
784:1,098
738:Labour
726:1,199
697:4,077
668:1,190
646:votes
639:Number
559:, and
469:Bootle
333:Bootle
312:, and
201:Centre
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
940:Seats
906:11th
758:32.2
700:12.2
633:Date
101:JSTOR
87:books
1193:2011
1015:ISBN
965:10th
952:1989
937:vote
935:% of
927:Year
903:0.4
900:154
877:7th
874:0.4
871:155
848:4th
845:2.5
819:6th
816:1.0
813:253
790:5th
787:2.3
761:2nd
732:5th
729:3.1
703:4th
674:4th
671:5.0
644:% of
598:and
567:and
288:and
245:The
213:and
211:Blue
156:1988
73:news
995:",
959:0.5
912:UUP
565:EEC
339:'s
331:in
251:SDP
215:Red
56:by
1230::
1213:.
1195:.
1183:.
1038:^
555:,
551:,
421:.
343:.
284:,
273:.
991:"
962:0
249:(
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
27:.
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