Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)
British political party / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a political party in the United Kingdom established in 1990. Ideologically, the SDP combines social conservatism with centre-left economic policy.[4] It supports a social market economy alongside Euroscepticism.[5][third-party source needed] Founded by Jack Holmes, it has been led by William Clouston since 2018.
This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (April 2023) |
Social Democratic Party | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | SDP |
Leader | William Clouston |
Chairperson | Valerie Gray[1] |
Founder | Jack Holmes |
Founded | 1990 |
Split from | Social Democratic Party (1988) |
Headquarters | 272 Bath Street Glasgow G2 4JR |
Youth wing | Young Social Democrats (YSD) |
Membership (January 2021) | 2,000[2] |
Ideology | |
Political position | Fiscal: Centre-left Social: Centre-right |
Colours | Red Blue |
Slogan | "Family, Community, Nation" |
Local government[3] | 3 / 19,187 |
Website | |
sdp | |
The current party traces its origin to the Social Democratic Party, which was formed in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament (MPs) and former Cabinet members Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the Gang of Four. The original SDP merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats, but Owen, two other MPs and a minority of party activists formed a breakaway group also called the Social Democratic Party (1988–1990) immediately afterwards. That continuing party dissolved itself in 1990 after finishing behind the Official Monster Raving Loony Party in a by-election, but activists met and voted to continue the party in defiance of its National Executive, leading to the creation of the current Social Democratic Party under the leadership of the candidate who lost the by-election.
In November 2018, the SDP gained its first and only European parliamentarian when Patrick O'Flynn, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for East of England, defected from the UK Independence Party. He served in the European Parliament until 1 July 2019.[6] Prominent members include journalists Rod Liddle and Giles Fraser.[7][8]
At the 2022 local elections, the SDP gained a seat on Leeds City Council from Labour, the first non-parish council seat won since 2003.
In October 2022, the SDP announced a general election pact with the right-wing populist and Eurosceptic party Reform UK.[9][10][third-party source needed]
The party contested the 2024 London mayoral election with candidate Amy Gallagher.[4]