Social Democratic Party (UK, 1979)
Encyclopedia
The Social Democratic Party was a minor centre left political party
founded in Manchester
in 1979 by Donald Kean. The party stood one candidate in Warrington
at the 1979 UK general election, who received only 144 votes and came bottom of the poll.
Kean stood again, at the Glasgow Central by-election, 1980
, winning only ten votes - the lowest total polled in a British by-election since 1918. The following year, a group of high profile Labour Party
figures formed a new Social Democratic Party
, gaining far more attention than Kean's group. He hoped to force the new party to change their name. By coincidence, a by-election arose in Warrington, in 1981
, and Kean stood against the new party with the slogan "Enforce Law, End Poverty, Create Jobs". The 1979 SDP's vote fell to 0.1% of the total.
The party's final candidacy came at the Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
. Roy Jenkins
, a leading figure in the newer SDP stood. Kean's SDP stood Douglas Parkin, who changed his name to "Roy Harold Jenkins" by deed poll
. The SDP took "Roy Harold Jenkins" to court, claiming that this attempt to confuse voters constituted a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act
. They failed to convince the court. However, the SDP was permitted to draw attention to the position of their candidate on the ballot paper, and did so in a wide variety of ways. The better-known Roy Jenkins was able to win the seat, while Kean's party took 282 votes, their best result.
Kean's SDP did not stand in any further elections.
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...
founded in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1979 by Donald Kean. The party stood one candidate in Warrington
Warrington (UK Parliament constituency)
Warrington was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. From 1832 to 1983 it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
at the 1979 UK general election, who received only 144 votes and came bottom of the poll.
Kean stood again, at the Glasgow Central by-election, 1980
Glasgow Central by-election, 1980
The Glasgow Central by-election, 1980 was a by-election held on 26 June 1980 for the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Central, following the death of its sitting MP, Thomas McMillan.On a turnout of 48%, the Labour Party held the seat....
, winning only ten votes - the lowest total polled in a British by-election since 1918. The following year, a group of high profile 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...
figures formed a new 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...
, gaining far more attention than Kean's group. He hoped to force the new party to change their name. By coincidence, a by-election arose in Warrington, in 1981
Warrington by-election, 1981
The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge....
, and Kean stood against the new party with the slogan "Enforce Law, End Poverty, Create Jobs". The 1979 SDP's vote fell to 0.1% of the total.
The party's final candidacy came at the Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982....
. 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...
, a leading figure in the newer SDP stood. Kean's SDP stood Douglas Parkin, who changed his name to "Roy Harold Jenkins" by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
. The SDP took "Roy Harold Jenkins" to court, claiming that this attempt to confuse voters constituted a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act
Representation of the People Act
Representation of the People Act is a short title for legislation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom dealing with the electoral system.-List:*The Representation of the People Act 1832*The Representation of the People Act 1832...
. They failed to convince the court. However, the SDP was permitted to draw attention to the position of their candidate on the ballot paper, and did so in a wide variety of ways. The better-known Roy Jenkins was able to win the seat, while Kean's party took 282 votes, their best result.
Kean's SDP did not stand in any further elections.