Campaign for Social Democracy

The Campaign for Social Democracy was a minor political party which stood candidates in the February 1974 United Kingdom general election.

Not to be confused with Council for Social Democracy or Campaign for Democratic Socialism.

History

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 only 2.4% of the vote in their constituency.[1] The campaign was wound up 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 Labour moderates formed the Social Democratic Party.

Election results

The party's results were:[1]

ConstituencyCandidateVotes%Position
Bristol South EastJames Hugh Robertson6681.25
KeighleyJohn Binns3480.84
PenistoneMartin Eaden8671.64
TottenhamJ. Martin7632.56

References
  1. Craig, F. W. S. (1975). Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections 1885–1974. London: Macmillan. p. 13. ISBN 0333171527.


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