Social Democratic Party
AbbreviationSDP
LeaderWilliam Clouston
ChairpersonValerie Gray[1]
FounderJack Holmes
Founded1990
Split fromSocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988–1990)
Headquarters272 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JR
Youth wingYoung Social Democrats (YSD)
Membership (January 2021)2,000[2]
Ideology
Political positionFiscal: Centre-left
Social: Centre-right
Colours  Red   Blue
Slogan"Family, Community, Nation"
Local government[3]
2 / 19,187
Website
sdp.org.uk

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 and support for a social market economy alongside Euroscepticism.[4] Founded by Jack Holmes, it has been led by William Clouston since 2018.

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.[5] Prominent members include journalists Rod Liddle and Giles Fraser.[6][7]

At the 2022 local elections, the SDP gained a seat on Leeds City Council from Labour and, later that year, a Conservative Derbyshire Dales District Councillor defected to the party. At the 2023 local elections, it gained a second seat on Leeds City Council from Labour, but lost the seat on Derbyshire Dales District Council to the Conservatives.

In October 2022, the SDP announced a general election pact with the right-wing populist and Eurosceptic party Reform UK.[8][9]

History

Formation

The second incarnation of the Social Democratic Party, often referred to as "the continuing SDP", decided to dissolve itself after a disastrous result in the May 1990 Bootle by-election. However, 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, who by polling fewer votes than the Official Monster Raving Loony Party at the Bootle by-election had caused the party's end. The much-reduced SDP decided to fight the 1991 Neath by-election. With Holmes serving as the party's election agent, the SDP candidate received 5.3% of the vote—only 174 votes behind the fourth-placed Liberal Democrats, although the SDP candidate joined the Lib Dems shortly after.[10] The party subsequently won just three seats on the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council during the next eight years.

Early years (1992–2008)

In 1992, the SDP had concentrated on campaigning at local level, holding a few council seats in Yorkshire and South Wales. Bridlington Central and Old Town ward on East Riding of Yorkshire Council remained a hotspot of SDP activity, with Ray Allerston holding a council seat there from 1987. From 2003 to 2007, he was joined by his wife Christine Allerston.[11] Meanwhile, Tony Pelton and Brian Smith were elected in 1999 in Tunstall Ward in Richmondshire. A third hotspot consisted of SDP councillors Jeff Dinham, John Sullivan and Anthony Taylor in Aberavon Ward, Neath Port Talbot.

In the 2003 elections, Tony Pelton was re-elected, but Brian Smith was not. In 2005, Christine Allerston became Mayor of Bridlington for a year; however, she stood down before the 2007 local elections in which her husband Ray Allerston was re-elected and made Mayor and David Metcalf picked up the vacant seat. All three Aberavon councillors remained in place, with Anthony Taylor becoming local mayor. However, Tony Pelton in Tunstall stood down before the 2007 locals, ending SDP representation there. Jackie Foster was elected to Bridlington town council in 2008.

Subsequent years (2009–2017)

In 2012, Councillors Dinham and Sullivan lost their seats in Aberavon, leaving only Anthony Taylor in position. David Metcalf stepped down in early 2014, owing to ill-health. He died soon afterward. This left just Allerston, Foster and Taylor in post. Ray Allerston died on 16 September 2014.[12][13] A by-election was held in his ward on 27 November which was won by the UK Independence Party (UKIP).[14]

The SDP fielded two candidates in the 2015 general election. Jackie Foster remained an SDP councillor on Bridlington Town Council after the 2015 local elections,[15] but as of 2016 was listed as a Labour councillor.[15] Until May 2017, Anthony Taylor sat on Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as an independent democrat,[16] but remained listed on the party website as an SDP councillor.[17]

Solihull's Green Party councillor Mike Sheriden defected to the SDP in August 2015.[18] However, when he stood for re-election as an SDP candidate in May 2016, he lost, receiving only 17 votes.

Six SDP candidates stood in the 2017 general election: one in Glasgow East and five in Sheffield constituencies.[19] The SDP candidates received a total of 469 votes and came last in every constituency.[20] According to accounts filed with the Electoral Commission, in 2017 the party—before its present financial growth—had a total income of £2,095.[21]

Growth, new leadership and new declaration (2018–present)

In January 2018, Kevin Hickson, former leader of Crewe Town Council, joined the SDP.[22] In an article published in the Crewe Chronicle, Hickson, who represented Crewe East on the town council, stated that he left Labour because of growing unease with that party's "almost daily changes" on Brexit policy. He went on to say that the SDP "combines centre left policies on the economy and the welfare state with a firm commitment to implement the will of the people on Brexit, reclaiming sovereignty over money, laws, borders and trade". Hickson is a senior lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool[23] and a former Labour parliamentary candidate.[24] He became the party chairman, until being replaced by Paula Watson in January 2020.

William Clouston became leader of the SDP in 2018, and was re-elected by 89% of ballots returned by members in March 2020.[25] He was a member of the original party in the 1980s and remained with the "continuing" SDP after the merger with the Liberal Party. He was a Conservative councillor on Tynedale District Council from 1999 to 2003[26] and is chairman of Corbridge Parish Council.[27]

In October 2018, the party published a New Declaration of aims and values, whose name recalls the original Limehouse Declaration of 1981 and which the party describes as putting the principles of social democracy in a modern setting. The declaration calls for a "communitarian, social democratic nation-state".

Patrick O'Flynn, Member of the European Parliament for East of England, defected from the UK Independence Party (UKIP) to join the SDP in November 2018.[5] He cited UKIP leader Gerard Batten's appointment of Tommy Robinson as an adviser as a key reason for his departure from the party.[20] In April 2019, O'Flynn stated that the SDP would not be standing in the 2019 European Parliament election.[28]

In March 2019, prominent political journalists Rod Liddle and Giles Fraser announced that they had joined the party.[6][7]

The SDP won a non-parish council seat at election for the first time since 2003 when Wayne Dixon was elected in the 2022 Leeds City Council election.[29][30] Dixon was elected to Leeds City Council for Middleton Park and has a majority of 14%.[31] The party gained a second non-parish council seat later that year in October 2022, when Richard Bright, a Conservative Party councillor for Derbyshire Dales District Council, defected to the party.[32]

On 22 October 2022, the Social Democratic Party announced a general election pact with the right-wing Reform UK for the next United Kingdom general election.[9]

2023 Local elections

At the 2023 local elections, SDP councillor Richard Bright lost his seat to the Conservative Party candidate at the Derbyshire Dales Elections, placing third with 19% of the vote in Hulland.[33] The SDP won a second council seat on Leeds City Council at the Leeds Elections, with Emma Pogson-Golden gaining Middleton Park with 1,985 votes.[34]

Policies

The SDP is a syncretic political party which combines centre-left economics with centre-right stances on social and cultural values. Its leader William Clouston has described it as a party of the 'conservative left'.[35] The party formally declared its principles in its "New Declaration" of October 2018.[36]

Europe

The SDP's orientation is Eurosceptic, supporting Brexit.[37] While the founders of the original SDP in 1981 were pro-EEC, the continuing SDP voted against the concept of a United States of Europe at its conference at Scarborough in 1989 and the 1990 party's Eurosceptic position developed from there. In March 2019, the party advocated the UK leaving the European Union on WTO terms in the absence of a better deal on offer.[38] As of November 2019, the party supported the latest iteration of the withdrawal agreement.[39]

Economy and welfare

The SDP's stance on the economy is centre-left, advocating a social market economy. It balances a commitment to enterprise and the market with support for greater progressivity in the tax code, substantial increases in the council housing stock, protection of legal aid, changes to the roll out of Universal Credit and renationalising utilities and the railways.[4]

On housing, the SDP wants to build 100,000 social homes per year under a "British Housing Corporation", with subsidiary "County Housing Corporations".[40] These "CHCs" would have substantial powers, being able to issue Compulsory Purchase Orders and having the ability to grant themselves planning permission. They would also take on all existing social housing from their respective local authorities.[40]

The party would also introduce "a moratorium on buy-to-let mortgages" in order to re-balance the housing market in favour of young first-time buyers.[40] To combat negligence in the rented sector, the SDP would introduce a "Conditions Certificate", likened to a "housing MOT", without which rent collection on the uncertified property would be illegal.

Foreign affairs and defence

The SDP supports marginal reductions in aid spending, in its view made possible by more effective use of the aid budget. It proposes that the Department for International Development be absorbed into a new Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which would ensure a greater alignment of aid and UK foreign policy interests. The SDP has criticised past UK efforts to "impose liberal democracy on complex societies in the Middle East".[4]

The SDP supports NATO and maintaining a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence. It would maintain and update Britain's nuclear deterrent and increase the size of the UK armed forces. It would complete the aircraft carrier programme and related air and naval investment to make and keep HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales fully operational. It supports increased spending on Intelligence to combat terrorism and cyber-warfare as a proportion of the overall defence budget. For veterans, it would increase their housing priority and create tax incentives for business to employ veterans.[4]

Social issues and immigration

The SDP believes the tax and benefits system should offer "greater protection and support for family life". Couples raising children together (comprising a basic rate tax payer and a non tax payer) would benefit from full sharing of tax allowances under the party's proposals. Moreover, government policy in all domains would be subject to a basic test as to "whether it is supportive of the family as the fundamental foundation of society".[4]

The party has a strong stance on reducing immigration, stating that "A return to moderate, controlled migration for a sustained period [...] would be beneficial. It would result in a less divided, more socially harmonious and more prosperous Britain."[41]

The party advocates a points-based immigration system which is "skills-based, needs-based, legal and subject to democratic control" and wants to contain net immigration to fewer than 50,000 per year.[41] They outline a zero-tolerance policy for illegal immigration, with asylum seekers who use illegal routes being repatriated immediately, or detained offshore for later repatriation.[41] On "genuine refugees", their policy is to allow 20,000 visas per year for "carefully vetted families with children in UN refugee camps or near major conflict zones".[41]

Transgender rights

The SDP's policy on transgender rights allows for a person to change their legal sex, subject to "medical gatekeeping". They oppose changes of legal sex by self-identification alone.[37][42] The party supports "biological sex"-based segregation in sport, women's refuges and prisons.[42]

The SDP supports healthcare spending for treatment of gender dysphoria, in both psychological and physiological forms, but stipulates that no physical treatments, including hormones, should be allowed for under-18s.[42]

The party supports "gender-critical" viewpoints, having offered their support for Kathleen Stock, and stating "Woman = adult human female".[43]

Leaders

  • Jack Holmes (1990–1991)
  • John Bates (1991–2008)
  • Peter Johnson (2008–2018)
  • William Clouston (2018–present)

Electoral performance

Westminster general elections

Election Seats ± Candidates Total votes  % Votes per candidate Government
1992
0 / 651
 Steady 8 6,649 0.1% 831 No seats
1997
0 / 659
 Steady 2 1,246 0.0% 623 No seats
2010[44]
0 / 650
 Steady 2 1,551 0.0% 776 No seats
2015[45]
0 / 650
 Steady 2 125 0.0% 63 No seats
2017[46]
0 / 650
 Steady 6 469 0.0% 78 No seats
2019
0 / 650
 Steady 20[47] 3,295[48] 0.0% 165 No seats

Scottish Parliament elections

Year Regional Vote Constituency Vote Overall Seats Change
2021 405 votes 0.0%
0 / 56
 – –
0 / 73
0 / 129
 New Party

London Assembly elections

Year Regional Vote Constituency Vote Overall Seats Change
2021 7,782 votes 0.3%
0 / 11
 – –
0 / 14
0 / 25
 New Party

Notable members and supporters

References

  1. ↑ "Valerie Gray". Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  2. ↑ Liddle, Rod (24 January 2021). "My SDP has definitely caught the public mood. Now all we need is some votes". The Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 SDP. "POLICIES". SDP. Archived from the original on 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2019-03-23.
  5. 1 2 "East of England MEP Patrick O'Flynn quits UKIP". ITV News. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Why I've joined the SDP". The Spectator. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. 1 2 Fraser, Giles (14 March 2019). "Turned off the news in disgust. Can't watch how useless our politicians are any more. Applied to join the @TheSDPUK. Feel a lot better already". Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. ↑ @reformparty_uk (October 21, 2022). "Reform UK & SDP Agree General Election Pact
    @TiceRichardsaid, "Since day 1, the SDP have engaged in grown-up, constructive talks about where and how we might work together to offer a credible challenge to the establishment parties."
    📄Read in full here:
    https://www.reformparty.uk/reformuk_sdp_general_election_pact"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. 1 2 "Reform UK and SDP agree general election pact". SDP. 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "By-election Results: 1987-92" (PDF). House of Commons Information Office. November 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2005.
  11. ↑ "Bridlington Central and Old Town Ward — East Riding". Local Elections Archive Project. Andrew Teale. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tribute to Ray Allerston – Bridlington Town Council". Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Former Bridlington mayor Ray Allerston dies". Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  14. ↑ "Ward Elections". Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Councillors – Bridlington Town Council". bridlington.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  16. ↑ "Councillor details - Councillor Anthony Taylor: NPT CBC". 29 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Councillors". Socialdemocraticparty.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  18. ↑ Annette Belcher (2015-08-17). "Solihull Green Party's first councillor defects". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  19. ↑ "Social Democratic Party candidates in the 2017 General Election". Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  20. 1 2 Stone, Jon (27 November 2018). "Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn quits party in protest at growing Tommy Robinson links". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  21. ↑ "Statement of Accounts (Yearly), 2017 Party name: Social Democratic Party". Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  22. ↑ http://www.sdpuk.nationbuilder/kevin_hickson
  23. ↑ "Kevin Hickson". University of Liverpool. 2013-02-18. Archived from the original on 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  24. ↑ "Kevin Hickson Labour Parliamentary Candidacy for East Yorkshire". Wikipedia. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  25. ↑ SDP Leadership Election Result (13 March 2020) SDP Party Secretary
  26. ↑ "William Clouston". SDP. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  27. ↑ "Your Council – Corbridge Parish Council". Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  28. ↑ "09/04/2019" Archived 2019-04-07 at the Wayback Machine. Newsnight. BBC2. 9 April 2019. "As a representative of the SDP, a party that's not contesting the European elections [...]".
  29. ↑ McCormick, Sebastian (May 6, 2022). "Labour sees victory on local election day in Leeds". LeedsLive. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Local elections 2022: SDP wins first council seat in Leeds for 34 years in shock result". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "Leeds City Council election results". Leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  32. ↑ "CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR JOINS THE SDP". www.sdp.org.uk. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022.
  33. ↑ "Elections results service". Derbyshire Dales District Council. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  34. ↑ Morris, Georgina (5 May 2023). "Local election 2023: Full Leeds City Council results for every ward as count confirms who has been elected". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  35. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ↑ SDP. "New Declaration". SDP. Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  37. 1 2 Williams, Joanna (10 October 2022). "Forgotten party is a home for frustrated voters". The Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022.
  38. ↑ "Brexit" Archived 2019-03-23 at the Wayback Machine.
  39. ↑ William Clouston on LBC, 18 November 2019
  40. 1 2 3 "Housing - SDP". Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  41. 1 2 3 4 "Immigration - SDP". Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  42. 1 2 3 "Transgender & Biological Sex-Based Rights - SDP". Archived from the original on 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  43. ↑ "SDP South East on Twitter". Archived from the original on 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  44. ↑ "BBC Election 2010 Results". Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  45. ↑ Election 2015: The Results and Tables Archived 2020-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, Rallings, Thrasher & Borisyuk, University of Plymouth
  46. ↑ "Election 2017 Results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  47. ↑ Renfree, Lisa (15 November 2019). "Social Democrats Largest Field of Candidates since 1987". SDP. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  48. ↑ BBC News Archived 2019-12-13 at the Wayback Machine 2019 election results
  49. ↑ Cleese, John (10 Oct 2022). "John Cleese Tweet".
  50. ↑ Linehan, Graham (18 Dec 2023). "Graham Linehan Tweet".
  51. ↑ Marshall, Winston (19 Dec 2023). "Winston Marshall Tweet".
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