1982 Social Democratic Party leadership election

1982 SDP leadership election

2 July 1982 1988 (SLD) →

Candidate Roy Jenkins David Owen Popular vote 26,256 20,864 Percentage 55.7 44.3

Elected Leader Roy Jenkins

The 1982 Social Democratic Party leadership election was called following the formation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The party had been founded by the Gang of Four the previous year and had rapidly built up its membership, but lacked a formal leadership structure. Each of the Gang of Four was regarded as coequal leader.