WITHIN THREE days of the election David Steel set about dismembering the SDP. Formally speaking the question was over a merger of the two parties. But in reality the issue is wholly political — and treated as such by all serious bourgeois figures. The Economist on 4 July put the issue squarely: 'David Steel would take Britain's Alliance party into a pact with Labour.
why he took the initiative so decisively against Owen.
merger wing of the SDP also made an explicit call tor a new Labour-Amance Wing situation, noted: Steel now The Malcolm Rutherfored wrote nancia wing MPs will would be Mr Steel.
County Europe. These already differences which David not making it that he primarily discussing Owen Steel clear by tion. crisis Steel over Owen's Times on June, three make the clear.
Grimond tory governwas done clear strategy by Diesell Liberal should recall the commitments of its founwille mond columnist.
majority ment, 1966.
its overall supervision The sued by a 1979 Liberals 1983, when port, cond only seduct 1981-83 relatively that since.
strategy.
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:control.
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The troduce This abandoned This was tire sought, take votes This his utopian an 1983 the Led the believed on projec of SDP of sections pro replace However to inin' instead the the pattern. to become only There merged attempted indeed.
'underlying' rapidly surtace. the second of a has been This i It SDP-Liberal taking votes party inTories the precis pact with are now very coming to the
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David Owen would not. Hence the ructions.' JOHN ROSS looks at where Steel is taking the Alliance, and