Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990)

The Social Democratic Party is a minor political party in the United Kingdom, founded in 1990. The SDP originates from the original Social Democratic Party that was founded in 1981, following its split from the Labour Party. 

The original SDP merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats, but members who opposed it formed a breakaway group also called the Social Democratic Party immediately afterwards. This also dissolved itself in the aftermath of a humiliating by-election in Bootle. Despite this, in 1990, some SDP activists met and voted to continue the party, which led to the formation of the current Social Democratic Party under the leadership of the candidate who lost that by-election. 

The party has been led since 2018 by William Clouston. The same year, it got its first and only European parliamentarian when Patrick O'Flynn, Member of the European Parliament for East of England, defected from the UK Independence Party.

At the 2022 local elections it gained a seat on Leeds City Council from Labour and, later that year, a Conservative Derbyshire Dales District Councillor defected to the party. They  won a second council seat on Leeds City Council in 2023.

 Ideology 
The SDP is left-leaning economically and promotes social democracy but right-leaning socially, promoting social conservatism. 

The party supported Brexit in 2016. It also opposes net zero emissions, supports fracking and new licenses for oil and gas.

 References 

Category:1990 establishments in England
Category:Social Democratic Party (UK)
Category:Politics of England