For the study of Liberal, SDP and Issue 39 / Summer 2003 / £7.50 Liberal Democrat history Journal of LiberalHI ST O R Y A short history of political virginity Chris Radley, with Mark Pack The story of the SDP Original cartoons from the Social Democrat Bill Rodgers Biography: David Owen Stefan Seelbach Aspects of organisational modernisation The case of the SDP Bill Rodgers and Chris Rennard What went wrong at Darlington? 1983 by-election analysed Conrad Russell, Tom McNally, Tim Benson Book reviews Roy Jenkins, Giles Radice, Alan Mumford Liberal Democrat History Group A SHORT HISTORY OF POLITICAL VIRGINITY he Social Democratic Party Chris Radley, book reviews, and New subscription rates for was launched on 26 March a comprehensive bibliography the Journal T1981, and just under seven and chronology for students of Subscription rates for the Journal years later merged with the the SDP. will be increasing from the new Liberals to form today’s Liberal The original cartoon draw- subscription year, starting in Sep- Democrats. ings themselves – including tember 2003. This is the first rise For most of its existence, the many not reproduced in this for four years; it is necessitated by SDP published a regular news- Journal – will be on display the increasing costs of producing paper, the Social Democrat. One at London’s Gallery 33 (near what is on average a much larger of the paper’s regular cartoonists, London Bridge) throughout publication than hitherto. Chris Radley, has kindly made July 2003. Bill Rodgers, one of An annual subscription to the the originals available for repro- the SDP’s founding ‘Gang of Journal of Liberal History will cost duction in this issue of the Journal Four’, will open the exhibition £15.00 (£7.50 unwaged rate) of Liberal History. at a special showing for Liberal for individuals and £25.00 for Accordingly, this is a special Democrats on Tuesday 1 July institutions. This includes mem- issue on the story of the SDP (6.00–9.00pm). bership of the History Group – the ‘political virgins’, as many Full details of the exhibition unless you inform us otherwise. of them were. Four selections and of how you can purchase the Rates for overseas subscribers of cartoons, together with ac- cartoon originals (Journal readers are £20.00 for individuals and companying commentary, form benefit from a 10% discount!) are £30.00 for institutions; special the core of the issue, but there on the separate order form includ- The Alliance three-year rates are available for is much more: a biography of ed with this Journal. For exhibition gets to grips £55.00 (individuals) and £85.00 David Owen, analyses of the details, you can also contact Maria with tactical (institutions) total. Darlington by-election and of Linforth-Hall, Gallery Administra- voting (‘Social Standing order forms are avail- the organisational innovations tor, Gallery 33, 33 Swan Street, Democrat’, 19 able on request – for contact de- of the SDP, an interview with London SE11 1DF. June 1987) tails, see the page opposite. 2 Journal of Liberal History 39 Summer 2003 Issue 39: Summer 2003 Journal of Liberal History The Journal of Liberal History is published Special issue: the SDP quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. 4 The SDP: Beginnings, 1981–83 ISSN 1479-9642 Original cartoons from the Social Democrat by Chris Radley; commentary by Mark Editor: Duncan Brack Pack Deputy Editor: Sarah Taft Assistant Editor: Alison Smith 9 Drawing for Social Democracy Biographies Editor: Robert Ingham Reviews Editor: Sam Crooks An interview with SDP cartoonist Chris Radley; by Duncan Brack, Sarah Taft and Mark Pack Patrons Dr Eugenio Biagini; Professor Michael Freeden; 13 What went wrong at Darlington? Professor Earl Russell; Professor John Vincent Original memo on the 1983 by-election disaster by Bill Rodgers; commentary by Chris Rennard Editorial Board Dr Malcolm Baines; Dr Roy Douglas; Dr Barry 18 Rise … the SDP 1983–85 Doyle; Dr David Dutton; Professor David Original cartoons from the Social Democrat by Chris Radley; commentary by Mark Gowland; Dr Richard Grayson; Dr Michael Hart; Pack Peter Hellyer; Ian Hunter; Dr J. Graham Jones; Tony Little; Professor Ian Machin; Dr Mark Pack; 26 Aspects of organisational modernisation in Dr John Powell; Jaime Reynolds; Iain Sharpe political parties: the case of the SDP Editorial/Correspondence Organisational innovations introduced by the SDP; by Stefan Seelbach Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a 33 Bibliography refereed publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed. Contributions should be sent to: Key sources on SDP and Alliance history; compiled by Mark Pack Duncan Brack (Editor) 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ 34 … and decline: the SDP 1985–87 email: [email protected] Original cartoons from the Social Democrat by Chris Radley; commentary by Mark Pack All articles copyright © Journal of Liberal History. 40 Biography: David Owen Advertisements Adverts are welcome; please contact the Editor The political career and record of Dr David Owen; by Bill Rodgers for rates. 46 Merger and aftermath: 1987–89 Subscriptions/Membership Original cartoons from the Social Democrat by Chris Radley; commentary by Mark An annual subscription to the Journal of Pack Liberal History costs £15.00 (£7.50 unwaged rate). This includes membership of the History 51 Reviews Group unless you inform us otherwise. The institutional rate is £25.00 Alan Mumford: Stabbed through the Front, reviewed by Tim Benson; Giles Radice: Friends and Rivals, reviewed by Tom McNally; Roy Jenkins: A Life at the Centre, Overseas subscribers should add £5.00; reviewed by Conrad Russell or, a special three-year rate is available for £55.00 (individuals) or £85.00 (instituions). 56 Chronology Cheques (payable to ‘Liberal Democrat History Key dates in SDP and Alliance history; compiled by Mark Pack Group’) should be sent to: Patrick Mitchell 6 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PA; email: [email protected] Liberal Democrat History Group The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of historical Cover design concept: Lynne Featherstone topics relating to the histories of the Liberal Democrats, Liberal Party, and SDP, and of Liberalism. The Group organises discussion meetings and produces the Journal and other Published by the Liberal Democrat History occasional publications. Group, c/o 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ For more information, including details of publications, back issues of the Journal, tape Printed by Kall-Kwik, records of meetings and archive and other research sources, see our web site at: 426 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5TF www.liberalhistory.org.uk. June 2003 Hon President: Earl Russell Chair: Tony Little Journal of Liberal History 39 Summer 2003 3 The Social Democratic Party was launched on 26 March 1981. Just under seven years later THE SDP: BEGINNINGS, 1981–83 the SDP merged with the Liberals; a rump Owenite party stayed separate for another two years. For most of its existence, the SDP The formation of the SDP union vested interests, which published a regular (1 May 1982) they held responsible for many of The ‘Gang of Four’ – Roy the shortcomings in British poli- newspaper, the Social Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodg- tics and economics. ers and Shirley Williams – were Many were middle class, and Democrat. In the first the principal founders of the Roy Jenkins in particular was of four articles, we SDP. They all were or had been seen as a connoisseur of upmar- senior figures in the Labour Par- ket alcohol – hence the bottle of illustrate the history of ty; Jenkins was a former Deputy claret. ‘Claret and chips’ became the SDP through the Leader. an ironic slogan of the new party. Nevertheless, the new party drawings of one of the was notable for drawing in large Social Democrat’s regular numbers of supporters who had Pendulum politics not previously been members of (10 September 1982) cartoonists, Chris any political party. Dubbed the Many saw the SDP, and then the Radley. Commentary ‘political virgins’, they saw them- Alliance, as a new, fresh foray into selves as wanting to bring com- British politics, in contrast to the by Mark Pack. mon sense to politics, unencum- tired old parties, illustrated in the bered by big business or trade cartoon (right) by the slumped 4 Journal of Liberal History 39 Summer 2003 THE SDP: BEGINNINGS, 1981–83 figures of Labour leader Michael Foot and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Until the Conservatives’ run of electoral success be- tween 1979 and 1997, the textbook view of British politics had it operating like a pendulum: regular swings from left to right gave the Conservatives and Labour alternating turns in power. The SDP set out to break this duopoly and to try and avoid the damaging reversals of policy that followed in the wake of the electoral swing. Glamour girl (5 November 1982) Shirley Williams was the and its critics, the SDP was any real values, depending on itself. Once the party was member of the Gang of Four something different from the taste. established, the same title was with the most popular touch, traditional mould of political The Council for Social De- used as the name of the par- bringing a degree of glam- parties – novel and exciting; mocracy was initially set up as ty’s governing body. our and excitement to the or just a concoction of su- a rallying point in the run-up An incomes policy was SDP. To both its supporters perficial showiness without to the formation of the SDP the main plank of the SDP’s economic policies in the early years – in quintessential SDP style, the idea was for people to behave sensibly, talk to each other and come up with reasonable agreements, in this case on wage increases across the economy.