A marriage made in Portsmouth: the Liberal/SDP merger

In 2008 BBC Parliament made this documentary marking the 20th anniversary of the merger between the Liberal Party and the SDP, and explaining why it was such a difficult process. Interviewees are Shirley Williams, Michael Meadowcroft, Charles Kennedy, Tony Greaves, Alan Beith, David Steel, Robert Maclennan, and Mike Thomas.
Transmitted 2 March 2008.

[@benjamineckford1718]

Did my dissertation at uni on the SDP so this was interesting to me

[@oliviawalker2352]

What did you talk about in the dissertation? (asking out of genuine interest, aha)

[@benjamineckford1718]

@@oliviawalker2352 you're as big and as sad a nerd as me eh? It was called 'Why did the SDP leave the Labour Party?', basically I waffled on about Europe, nuclear disarmament, the changes to Labour Party internal democracy, the general left-wing-ness of the party (on things like economic policy, mass nationalisations etc), and I was quite critical of the Gang of Four, saying they were so arrogant and hubristic that they couldn't accept the outcomes of democratic decisions in the Labour Party. I did also say they were attracted to social democratic parties in western Europe, particularly West Germany, hence them choosing to go with the name SDP like the West German SPD. I didn't get a good grade, in case you were wondering

[@ER1CwC]

@@benjamineckford1718 Surely the Militant tendency within Labour had something to do with it too though?

[@robertmay9798]

Real shame that David Owen (presumably) didn't want to be included in this.

[@jonnobloggs1139]

I'll never forget the deliciously vicious portrayal of the two David's by Spitting Image with David S firmly in David O's pocket.

[@eliwhaley4804]

Thanks for the uploads

[@baders087]

the documentary ends with Nick Clegg, the beginning of the end

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

Very difficult to break the duopoly in British politics as long as the unrepresentative FPTP electoral system remains in place.

[@chriswatson3464]

Often the third party or forth party is the problem.

[@scritti]

As an ex member of the SDP I really enjoyed watching this. I felt very sad when the party was disbanded. I always felt we had a fresh outlook to offer the public.

[@liamb8644]

Dennis Skinner ‘Salads’ LOL

[@danielmurray1490]

SDP kept Thatcher in power Should of stuck with Foot and possibly one of the gang of 4 would of been Labour leader after General election

[@Liberaven]

Foot would never have won

[@danielmurray1490]

@Liberaven read it properly if foot had win he would of been leader after election this states Labour would be looking for a new leader after

[@Liberaven]

@@danielmurray1490 I did read it but your meaning was unclear. It sounded like you believed that Labour would have won without the split, then the Gang of Four could have taken over the party and thus the government from within. Please don’t condescend about such misunderstandings in future. You just needed to clarify

[@savethebeesplantherbs8809]

As a current SDP member the party feels far more innovative and electable not something the lib dems can expect then

[@Liberaven]

SDP now is a very different party to back then. Enough time has passed that its a new entity with different goals to the 1981 lot

[@stephenholmes1036]

If only David Penhaligon hadn't tragically died in a traffic accident

[@garethdavies2145]

Very interesting. Not seen this before. Wish they'd drop the Democrats from the party name now though. No ideological reason, just think Liberal party sounds better.

[@Jesus420.69]

Agreed. It would help them. Only problem is ‘the liberal party” does still exist as a minor party with a couple of councillors. And they’re a bit nuts..

[@frankdsouza2425]

@@Jesus420.69 The existence of a miniscule party should not present any problem to such fresh branding. Especially as the miniscule party is probably dormant, if not actually dead.

[@Clydesider711]

@@Jesus420.69 Actually, I'm a member of the Liberal Party. We hold to the Lloyd Georgian principles of Liberalism. We are building, and will serve as the loyal opposition one day.

[@Clydesider711]

@@frankdsouza2425 I'm sorry. Liberalism is very much alive. There are factions within the party, yes. I have forsworn my former friend, who has come out as an Asquithian Liberal. I hold true to Lloyd Georgian liberalism.

[@mattnik]

​@@Clydesider711it's a little sad that your grand goal is to be in opposition. Shouldn't the end goal be forming either a coalition or a government in its own right? Maybe as an American I'm missing something, admittedly.

[@merseydave1]

I was/is a stom in a tea cup!.