Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988) (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The post-merger SDP carried on with two major advantages over the Social & Liberal Democrats (later known as the Liberal Democrats). Firstly, they enjoyed the financial support of Lord Sainsbury, owner of the Sainsbury chain of supermarkets. Secondly, David Owen was a charismatic leader who looked and acted the part of a potential prime minister. The Liberal Democrats lacked a leader of this stature until the arrival of Paddy Ashdown. The party also retained the allegiance of seventeen members of the House of Lords, led by Phyllis Stedman.But despite an energetic tour of the nation's university campuses by Owen, the party remained very short of active members. A party conference held at Paisley Town Hall in 1989 was done behind closed doors to the general public to conceal the rows of empty seats. A shortage of members left the party exposed to electoral embarrassment if it stood in areas where there was a lack of activists to bring out the vote.