Find out about our latest press coverage and statements here.
The Social Democratic Party wholeheartedly condemns the decision to suspend GB News from the Senedd. The channel has played a pivotal role in providing an alternative voice – including our own – to the Welsh public. We’re one of the Read more
Freedom of speech and the right to protest are cornerstones of our democracy – part of the cherished rights of British citizens. However, the right to protest can itself be exploited. It should not entail the right to occupy important Read more
The government has announced that it will grant hundreds of new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea. The SDP supports this move for three reasons. We recognise that investors in new oil and gas fields will find it Read more
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces that their candidate for the Selby and Ainsty by-election on the 20th of July will be local man John Waterston. A former Chairman of Selby Round Table and an active contributor to local Read more
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces that their candidate for the Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election will be local man and Gulf War Veteran Steve Gardner. Steve has lived in the area for over 25 years and is well Read more
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has secured a further dramatic victory over Labour in Leeds by winning a second seat on the City Council in Middleton Park. SDP candidate Emma Pogson-Golden won the seat convincingly just one year after Wayne Read more
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) opposes the Gender Recognition Reform Bill (GRR) of the Scottish Government, passed on the 22nd of December 2022. We believe – along with millions of Scottish people – that the Bill is irrational, unworkable and Read more
Reform UK and The Social Democratic Party (SDP) have today confirmed details of how they intend to co-operate in a significant number of constituencies at the next General Election. The reciprocal agreement will see each party stand aside for the Read more
In the week of its 2022 Annual Conference the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is pleased to announce that Councillor Richard Bright, who sits on Derbyshire District Council, has joined the party. Councillor Bright is an experienced local campaigner and a Read more
UK households and business are facing an unprecedented energy price crisis, partly because our two-party duopoly has failed to build the energy system resilience a modern economy needs. We need immediate action to prevent households and business from collapsing under Read more
The SDP’s Wayne Dixon has won a dramatic victory in the Middleton Park ward in Leeds in Thursday’s local elections, pushing Labour to second place. Councillor Dixon called it “a victory for sensible, mainstream politics that local people can understand.” Read more
4th April 2022 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces David Bettney as the party’s candidate for South Yorkshire Mayor. David is a former solider who served in the Army for 22 years, which included tours in Bosnia, Iraq Read more
23rd February 2022 – The Social Democratic Party condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a total breach of Ukrainian territorial sovereignty. The peaceful coexistence of independent nation-states is a fundamental social democratic goal and respect for national frontiers is indispensable to this Read more
27th November, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) calls for a measured and proportionate response to the new “Omicron” variant of the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus identified in South Africa and Botswana. We call for the government to enact strict travel bans against Read more
22nd October, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) opposes calls by the British Medical Association (BMA) for the government to introduce its ‘Plan B’ pandemic measures which include mandatory face coverings, vaccine passports and increased home working. Such measures would Read more
27th September, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) condemns the government’s creation of 10,000 temporary visas for HGV drivers and poultry workers. Instead, our party calls on the government to support the creation of emergency domestic training schemes to Read more
14th September, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces its opposition to the government’s plans to proceed with a vaccination programme for healthy children aged 12 to 15. Earlier this month the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation Read more
7th June, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced Ollie Purser as the party’s candidate for the Batley and Spen by-election. Ollie is a recent graduate with a degree in Natural Sciences from Durham. Ollie is passionate advocate of Read more
7th April, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced that Steve Kelleher will run as the party’s candidate to be Mayor of London. This follows the SDP’s recent announcement of David Bettney as its candidate in the Hartlepool Read more
29th March, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces that David Bettney will be the party’s candidate for the Hartlepool by-election. David is a former soldier who served in the Army for 22 years, which included operational tours Read more
25th January, 2021 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Limehouse Declaration, which triggered the formation of the party. Issued on January 25th 1981 by the prominent Labour politicians Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Read more
30th December, 2020 – The SDP broadly welcomes the agreement reached between the European Union and the UK Government, and acknowledges it as a vital step in the restoration of national sovereignty. SDP leader William Clouston says: “The conclusion of Read more
11th September, 2020 – The SDP today announces its opposition to the government’s new COVID-19 restrictions. We call on the government to instead adopt a sustainable public response to the pandemic, befitting the long-term challenges it poses. The newly-unveiled restrictions Read more
9th September, 2020 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today announces its opposition to Conservative-controlled Surrey County Council’s proposal create a “single unitary authority” across Surrey, which will eliminate the county’s 11 Borough and District councils. If created, a single Read more
14th November, 2019 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is delighted to announce that it is standing 20 candidates in the 2019 General Election. It’s the SDP’s largest field of candidates since 1987 and reflects the party’s strong resurgence in Read more
17th October, 2019 – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) welcomes the new Withdrawal Agreement reached between the UK Government and the European Union and urges MPs to support it. We were implacably opposed to Theresa May’s appalling “worst deal in Read more
23rd July, 2019 – “Boris Johnson’s economic and social liberalism differs vastly from our Social Democrat outlook but he represents a ‘wild card’ which may deliver Brexit and, in doing so, restore faith in British democracy. The new Prime Minister Read more
Following Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s announcement that Labour is to campaign for a second EU referendum in which it will back Remain, Patrick O’Flynn said: “Labour stood on a manifesto in 2017 of respecting the referendum result. It therefore won Read more
TRIGGERnometry is a free speech YouTube show and podcast. They believe in open, fact-based discussion of important and controversial issues. Comedians Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster create fun-but-serious conversations with their guests, including former Presidential advisors and political experts, leading Read more
SDP leader William Clouston has confirmed that the party will not field candidates in the European parliamentary election following a unanimous decision tonight by the party’s National Coordinating Committee. Mr Clouston said: “This election lacks basic democratic legitimacy, coming almost Read more
SDP Brexit spokesman Patrick O’Flynn MEP said: “Theresa May and the Tories have broken promise after promise to the British people. But her decision to cancel Brexit for the second time shows she has no intention of ever enacting the Read more
Following Theresa May’s failure to guarantee leaving the EU even on her delayed date of April 12, SDP Brexit spokesman Patrick O’Flynn said: “It is now quite clear that the Westminster establishment parties are out to thwart Brexit altogether. Effectively Read more
This article by Giles Fraser was recently published on the UNHERD website. A party for the politically homeless The SDP’s new pro-community, pro-Brexit manifesto is for the ‘Somewheres’ Giles Fraser It feels like I have just met a ghost. “This Read more
The SDP is pleased to announce Ian McLean as our candidate for the Newport West By-Election on Thursday, 4th April 2019. Ian is standing for Newport West so that he can champion the local area’s priorities. All Ian’s life he Read more
In this recent UNHERD SHORTS podcast, Giles Fraser joins Charlotte Pickles and Peter Franklin to discuss the UK’s broken political system, and whether SDP 2.0 might be the party for the politically homeless. You can listen to the podcast here
The party’s leader William Clouston was interviewed recently by renown journalist and Sunday Times contributor Rod Liddle. The interview came at the time of the recent resignations of politicians from the two main parties to form The Independent Group, sparking Read more
PETERBOROUGH-based Member of the European Parliament Patrick O’Flynn has been selected as the Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary candidate for the city in advance of a hotly-anticipated by-election. East of England MEP Mr O’Flynn pledged to give thousands of Brexit voters Read more
Patrick O’Flynn, MEP for the East of England, has joined the Social Democratic Party. Commenting on his reasons for leaving UKIP Patrick stated: “Like many on the communitarian wing of the party, I have decided to join the resurgent SDP, Read more
The Common Good in The National Interest The SDP reshaped politics in the 1980s and almost ‘broke the mould’. The resurgent SDP now offers millions of disenchanted voters a new centre-ground choice. The party, which has quietly been signing up Read more