Campaign for Social Democracy
The Campaign for Social Democracy was a minor political party which ran candidates in the February 1974 United Kingdom general election.
History
[edit]The party was formed in September 1973 by Dick Taverne, who had resigned from the Labour Party, after falling out with his Constituency Labour Party over the European Economic Community.[1]
Taverne had formed the Democratic Labour Association in Lincoln and had been elected as an MP for Lincoln under that banner in a by-election in March, 1973. He formed the Campaign for Social Democracy as an attempt to build a radical non-doctrinaire social democratic movement, and at the February 1974 general election they stood four candidates against leading Labour left-wingers, including Tony Benn.[1]
All candidates were unsuccessful, with the highest polling at 2.4% of the vote in their constituency.[1] The campaign ended when the Labour Party won the October 1974 United Kingdom general election, making a split in the Labour Party less likely. Such a split did occur in the early-1980s, when leading moderate in the Labour Party formed the Social Democratic Party.
Election results
[edit]The party's results were:[1]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol South East | James Hugh Robertson | 668 | 1.2 | 5 |
| Keighley | John Binns | 348 | 0.8 | 4 |
| Penistone | Martin Eaden | 867 | 1.6 | 4 |
| Tottenham | J. Martin | 763 | 2.5 | 6 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Craig, F. W. S. (1975). Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885–1974. London: Macmillan. p. 13. ISBN 0333171527.
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