The formation of the SDP and the subsequent alliance came at a time when the British economy was in a deep recession and Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government was proving unpopular; since coming to power in May 1979, unemployment had risen from over 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 and beyond by 1982, due to the closure of many formerly state-subsidised factories. In 1981, there were riots in London's Brixton, Birmingham's Handsworth, Leeds' Chapeltown, Liverpool's Toxteth and Manchester's Moss Side.