SDP Talks Matthew Goodwin

The SDP is a patriotic, economically left-leaning, and culturally traditional political party.
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In this episode of SDP Talks, William Clouston is joined by writer and academic Matt Goodwin, author of ‘Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics’.
Matt and William discuss the emergence of Britain’s ‘new elite’ - an increasingly liberalised, globalised ruling class which dominates politics and culture. This has left millions of people feeling powerless, politically homeless, and stigmatised as being morally inferior. People are crying out for change and better representation, but there are promising signs that this dominance is starting to be challenged.
Link to Matt Goodwin’s substack:
mattgoodwin.substack.com/

[@richardwillford2418]

As a Swede, "Social Democratic Party" sends off howling sirens, deafening alarm bells and skryscraper-sized warning signs, blinking aggressively. To my astonishment, the British SDP comes across as agreeable. In Sweden they would pass off as an intellectual version of the centre-right Moderates, or the centrist Liberal Party - both being establishment monstrosities these days. And what a party leader! This guy actually knows what he's talking about. Intelligent, well-read, in touch.

[@markedwards6147]

Matt is a highly intelligent guy. As an SDP activist, I can honestly say that our party would be very lucky if he joined us, maybe even become a PPC down in Kent perhaps. A brilliant interview.

[@nowherepeople3431]

“Can’t distinguish a country from a shop” YES! Love this. So true. 👏🏻

[@nowherepeople3431]

@Phil Yeah it’s mental. All they need to do is trot a bit of spitfire/bulldog pseudo nationalist symbolism out occasionally or make a glib comment about letterboxes and they get everyone on side. Hopefully though, never again.

[@jumblestiltskin1365]

It's not even a shop, it's a fire sale out of a barnyard at the back of a soon to be sold mansion.

[@nowherepeople3431]

@@jumblestiltskin1365 Lol you’re not wrong!

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Conservatives " we increased GDP figures but lost European Civilisation".

[@nowherepeople3431]

@@evolassunglasses4673 Totally mate. Line go up eh? What’s more important than that? 📈😩

[@TheWorldofMomus]

Really good conversation. Love it. I hope SDP becomes more politically prominent in England.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

These are not the real SDP. The real SDP came out of the Labour Party (moderates) then merged officially with the Liberal Party to form the LibDem, who own the property, name, logo, funds etc at the time of merger in late 1980's.

[@TheWorldofMomus]

@@ParcelOfRogue I am not going in the past and voting for a party in the past with their then political ideologies am i? Every political party over the course of time, evolves, merges, and emerges. What matters is at this moment in time, are their policies most aligned to yours or not? And you vote on the basis of that and not some legacy hangovers.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

@@TheWorldofMomus That is true except they cannot be the SDP or use that original logo because legally it is owned by the LibDems. Call it the SPD or The Dead Monkey's Party, or anything else.

[@kayedal-haddad9294]

Do you think under a PR system they will ever get an MP?

[@ParcelOfRogue]

@@kayedal-haddad9294 It was a party merged with the Liberals to form the LibDems. This lot do not have permission to use name or logo & do not have similar policies. They have just 35 people standing as councillors in May. The Greens have 3000, LibDems 4000, Labour 6000. It is an irrelevant fringe.

[@BlueSkyLtd.]

Thank-you for this interview! Thank-you Mr. Goodwin! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☘️

[@TheGreenManFJ]

This is pure gold - absolutely spot on analysis

[@county8815]

Matthew Goodwin is superb commentator and writer

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Thanks Mathew.

[@1956HBS]

I’m ex Tory and a Thatcherite, yet I’m quite at home in the SDP!

[@ParcelOfRogue]

That's because they are not the SDP. The SDP were socially progressive ( e.g Roy Jenkins) and well to the left of New Labour.

[@vivo-audio]

Yep, this interview sounds like GB News. No evidence, just strong anti-liberal rhetoric.

[@ladylove3636]

I was team Corbyn & despise Thatcher, as they said here selling off our things was selling us out. When the SDP start on repealing the GRA I'll support them x

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@ParcelOfRogue The old Labour right who formed the SDP were well to the left of New Labour, that is true. Labour under Blair sold out democratic socialism and capitulated to neoliberalism/ Thatcherism.

[@sweep2112]

This popped into my feed and I really enjoyed watching the interview. You speak for so many of us middle Britain types, who are either working class or worked hard and might consider ourselves a dying breed of patriotic middle class. Please keep speaking out for us because we are feeling more and more isolated. Covid caused the floor to disappear and we are still tumbling down the rabbit hole. A world dominated by The Red Queen who says “The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.”

[@lenwilkinson672]

A great talk Mathew. Wish there were more like you,imparting your intelligent view of the things that are befalling our country today. Sincere good wishesto you.

[@jonathangammond3019]

Always interesting to listen to Matthew Collins's analysis. Conservatives seem to no longer be capable of thinking beyond the wallet. That wasn't the case previously.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

The Anglo-sphere Right has been the bulwark for open borders Globalisation.

[@colonelflashman972]

As a Thatcher right I'm listening.

[@stephenbarden6121]

Superb analysis- it's such a shame that the SDP cannot make a real electoral breakthrough; I would imagine that the SDP's political positions- leaning slightly to the Left on economics, and slightly to the Right on culture- is a position shared by at least 40% of the voting population, if not more. Vote SDP!!

[@maggie19441]

The SDP was a breakaway party from labour. They in some ways are a semi established party. To get themselves really out there requires cash. In the current situation its possible that they could get donations from ex and disallusioned tory and labour donors In the meantime they need to get daily writers on facebook, twitter whatsapp and similar. They could pick up a lot of labour voters and amost as many tory voters. We can do our bit by sharing their posts. They are currently our only alternative. At least they understand and share out love of Britain and our own culture.

[@stephenbarden6121]

@@maggie19441 Totally agree with you, Margaret. In 2019, I was hoping that Boris Johnson might take the Red Wall vote seriously, and build upon a left economics/ slightly to the right cultural coalition. Some hope of that; the Conservatives are never really going to the change, are they? As for Labour, they've just become a woke pressure group, a prisoner of various pressure groups, all of whom seem to value incessant culture wars above the deep-seated economic and social inequalities we've been experiencing since the 1980s. Yes, we must do all we can to spread the SDP's message; William Clouston would make such an impressive Prime Minister.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Why?

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@maggie19441 Define British culture. According to a survey just out fish and chips is the thing Britons are most proud of about British culture. Utterly ridiculous though not surprising, given how thick most of the population is. If a survey of Scots had said haggis or Irn Bru was the thing they were most proud of about Scotland there would be derision. But when its a survey no doubt answered by mostly English respondents it is taken at face value. Imagine if the French said croissants were the greatest source of pride for them. Most Britons have no idea what culture is.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@stephenbarden6121 Define woke. Do you know what a pressure group is?

[@anitahill4459]

As I listened to these two men discussing Britain today, I kept thinking 'yes, I can relate to that' and 'yes, that is so true' Lovely to hear someone else relating all the thoughts of us disillusioned people who just appear to be here to work hard and pay for the rest of the others who appear to view us as cash cows and not worthy of how it's spent

[@CCDR07]

Who in your view is the cash cow, and who do you think is milking it? I hear a lot more in media circles about benefit fraud, than I ever do of offshore tax havens, corporate fraud, and unequal access to the justice system between the wealthy and those with little money. I'll also hear a lot more about BS culture war issues (of the form that Mathew Goodwin exasperates) that fragment people along class lines, when the real political issues absolutely must be fought and won along class lines...

[@glizzforman8094]

I'd vote for these guys.

[@thenookishome]

An excellent, perspective interview that says it all...

[@Anne-bn9uk]

Excellent piece.

[@tobyyorke2539]

Keep up these brilliant interviews, William!

[@kayedal-haddad9294]

Love Matthew Goodwin!

[@mesolithicman164]

This conversation really hits so many points. Excellent. 2 very well informed speakers. I could vote for SDP ae easily as Reform. I also think the public are starting to see the sleight of hand magic whereby their country is slowly sold out to global interests by here today gone tomorrow politicians. And I think they are going to be very angry at the betrayal. Possibly even vengeful.

[@sisiphas]

I live outside the UK at the moment. I have friends and relatives there, with whom I converse openly, and who converse with each other openly and civilly. I can understand why those who voted for Brexit did so, and can also understand why those who wanted to remain in the EU did so. Btw, my highest qualification is a PhD from a very good UK university. My relatives who voted to leave all have degrees. Interestingly their degrees are STEM, those who voted to remain have ‘pretendy science’ degrees (social science or Politics) or arts degrees. Dont know what this means :)

[@michaelcrump6192]

Fantastic . Thanks Gents .

[@robertsmuggles6871]

This is one of the best conversations you'll hear on British politics today. I will vote for SDP.

[@ginashiel105]

excellent ...pretty obvious you have your finger on the pulse of the UK.....wish we had MPs who didn't just serve their own interests.....or their masters....

[@nowherepeople3431]

They only talk to themselves: “I don’t debate fascists” 🤦‍♀️

[@michaelbailey8729]

Excellent. Its up to the people to vote for the new parties and for the new parties to hold their territiory and not let labour and tory old guard enter.

[@benbeasant3443]

His latest book is incredible

[@LornaKellyZim]

Two brilliant minds. ( both very handsome to boot!)

[@robertsmuggles6871]

This 'elite within an elite' has the smell of vanguardism about it. This should ring alarm bells.

[@timfallon8226]

I would like to see migration reversed for at least 10 years. 500 000 a year going back to wherever they came from sounds reasonable to me.

[@OldRomanTV]

Couldn't agree more! The vast majority of politicians are far removed from the reality of ordinary people's lives. Career politicians particularly have no idea how to interact or engage with ordinary voters. Our politics is driven by untried ideologies that are irrelevant to most people's lives.

[@tombrennan8372]

Love this. I know Matt Goodwin’s work but who is the interviewer? The two of these have a great rapport. SDP should be prominent in British politics. Excellent.

[@helenn6061]

William Clouston

[@alastairhunter353]

Brilliant

[@richardghost5701]

Fantastic discussion.

[@dave_goldcrest]

I'd be interested to hear a discussion on the meeting of social democracy and conservatism. A discussion which takes into account the history of social democracy as well as that of conservatism. And why they suit each other more than liberalism.

[@secretsteven4535]

And what Social democracy/, Conservatism. Liberalism, all may mean in the world of today

[@wessexexplorer]

I've been watching Matthew for years, certainly hasn't got the profile his talents would deserve.

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

Worthy listening too, and...

[@Truth78799]

Well said I’ll be buying your book matt thank you it’s nice to have some with brains to get are culture and kids taught right thank you ✅

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Are?

[@wessexexplorer]

I think the democratic argument is so undervalued. a democratic decision has to involve people who have a stake or are accountable to the people it affects. This means that at national or even regional levels, elected bodies act in undemocratic ways when they use the power they have in ways that do not face democratic accountability from their voters. Many unitary authorities in England are undemocratic. Take Wiltshire: a large rural county will distinct communities surrounding Salisbury plain. The council can make decisions that dramatically affect particular towns, and yet the citizens in each town might care nothing for the town that suffers from the decision and is unable to democratically change this decision. this can then scale to national or continental wide decisions. for example the destruction of farming in Holland by a government directed by the EU. How is Holland to democratically change this decision? How is any other constituency going to care about this decision?

[@MFC343]

they also exclude people that think differently.

[@yorkyone2143]

Globalization left its mark worldwide not just in the UK. I remember travelling to the US a few decades ago & listening to people talk about the terrible effect it was having on the local job market. Today major drug & crime problems in those areas as people see no future for them or for family life. No one seemed to be accountable for this, just part of history.

[@richardvoller9204]

Great interview, I want to vote SDP but in Eastbourne there is no candidate so I have no voice. A great country brought low by a bunch of asset strippers with no love for their own nation.

[@Domdeone1]

Harry Enfield's 'loads a money' typified the get rich of the city at whatever cost to the rest of the country as we were being asset stripped.. We had to have Thatcher as a reaction to Labour of the seventies but but both were as devastating as to each other, where we are today, constantly evolving but to where?

[@eightiesmusic1984]

The peak year for disposable income in the UK was 1976. Strong unions meant collective bargaining and decent pay. Thatcherism was the culmination of a decades long campaign by hard right ideologues determined to reverse the role of the welfare state, strong unions and higher taxation for the rich in the years after the war. The premise that Britain had to have Thatcher is wrong. The voters elected the Tories under FPTP but it was a major error just like the mistake they have kept on making since the dawn of universal suffrage.

[@toddashley407]

The answer is simple.... Respect the sacred concept of the individual. Respect the individual's choices and belief systems - so long as it doesn't infringe upon other individuals. The problem with politics worldwide is simple corruption of corporations, institutions, and Uber wealthy which seeks to impose it's will upon the individual typically with the goal of subjugation of the individual. When I write "sacred individual" I say it not in a religious sense but in a solid proven philosophical sense. Never ever should a political system or government which claims to be representative of it's citizens seek to enable the subjugation of those it represents. This is the real discussion that needs to be taking place. Believe what you want, live your life, but never ever turn to government to carryout your personal agendas.

[@robertsmuggles6871]

An important interview - the comment that the UK is a developing country and we need to protect and develop our new industry with tariffs is sadly correct. This is referred to by developing countries as 'import substitution'.

[@garypowell1540]

Matthew Goodwin sees a distinct difference between the old elite and the new, I contend that there is little difference indeed that very little has changed. What we have is the result of something that started primarily at Oxford and Cambridge Universities around the late 1920s. As a general rule the Maxists from Cambridge and the Bolsheviks from Oxford. We also had The Fabians trying to reconcile these with Eugenics and The British System of corporate capitalism with something similar to German Style Fascism. I contend that the old establishment has been using these radical ideologies for its own ends and is still doing so. With change comes opportunities to make more money and create more power for oneself. A contented, united, and culturally stable population closes down these opportunities and makes the common masses far harder to control. The whole point of governments is to control their respective populations by any means available. A system where the same people control their own apparent opposition is as good a method as any and the only one that really works in a 'democracy.' The common masses have always benefitted from stability in all respects. This may not substantially increase their personal wealth but this tends to provide them with everything they need as their owners long since understood that they must ensure that their basic needs are met otherwise they could end up being skinned alive. Thus they gave us what could be described as Nice Socialism for a few decades, especially after the horrors of WWI and WWII. For we are given things, we do not get anything unless the powers up high see that it is in their interests to give it to us. This is commonly known as Bread and Circuses. Therefore I contend that nothing has really changed at all. We are left to make the best of what we are given by God himself and the gods of man. It largely depends on which we fear most. Or at least this is how it was and how it is today, but things may be about to change. Ignorance is only bliss for those who are not ignorant. Knowledge is indeed Power. Therefore the internet at least has the potential to change the situation since the time of the first printing presses, and it won't necessarily end up well for the common masses. I feel sure that our Slave Owning Class is well aware of this and is moving accordingly, but the effort is exposing them like never before to the light. Which is not a good place for blood-sucking vampires to find themselves. You may note that vampires can be at their most dangerous when in this position. I contend that they have a choice, they either substantially back down or come at us at an exponentially faster rate. It seems that they have chosen the latter path, thus MMGCC, Covid, mass immigration, another War in Europe, and the possibility of one in the Far East. I could also add, deliberately created food and water shortages, poverty-inducing inflation, censorship, surveillance, ever more cultural suicide, etc etc etc. These characters have had 'leftist' politics in their pocket since this became a thing. We see a flip in its entire thinking from pacifist to aggressive as a direct consequence of this long-standing fact of life. Therefore there is no coherent or organized opposition to any of the above horrors, quite literally none, it has all suddenly vanished. What we assumed would protect us from all of the worst possible things imaginable has disappeared like it was all part of a magician's act, which is exactly what it all was, a sorcerors illusion.

[@Glenfunnyman]

So much common sense being spoken. Almost out of place in today's political landscape.

[@robertsmuggles6871]

The current political class cannot face up to economic failure because none of them understand how wealth is created - accountants, financiers and lawyers move wealth around. They dominate the British establishment and regard the creators of wealth as subordinates. Engineers, product managers, teachers, designers, artists for example - the creators of wealth and key practitioners do not have a seat at the top table in the British establishment. Brexit will really bring this home - for the first time since 1979 they might have to start listening to the wealth creating class. If they don't we will become a 3rd world country and even economic immigrants wont want to come here anymore. Frankly we are already there.

[@Truth78799]

Yes so true Matt so true that they are taken out are basic values of the real family …. One flue over the cookies nest is on its way

[@LS-xs7sg]

Civic nationalism isn’t enough. If the British people are to survive as a coherent ethno-cultural group it will require genuine right wing radicalism

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Culture is downstream from ethnicity.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

The 'Right' particularly in the Anglo-sphere need to understand their economics have got us here. If the nation state doesn't control international finance, international finance will control the nation state.

[@nowherepeople3431]

Not right wing radicalism. Simple nationalism will suffice. That will include both right and left wing concepts for the benefit of the people. R vs L is becoming irrelevant.

[@jumblestiltskin1365]

​@Evola’s Sunglasses you are on the money here if you'll forgive the slight unfunny pun.

[@LS-xs7sg]

@@nowherepeople3431 I have no problem with left wing policies in terms of helping working class natives. But at a metaphysical level right wing thought is superior to left wing. You need a sense of higher purpose and an understanding that nature is unequal in order to have a functioning civilisation. Philosophically the left is about levelling everything and removing all distinctions between categories.

[@olzyolzmobile]

Yep, i'm not british but certainly I could notice at university that those who succeeded the best and became the next generation of teachers were themselves children of university staff and had adopted the 'right' values and are extremely intolerant of dissenting views and opinions.

[@realitychick4502]

Free market economics would logically turn every property into bedsits. There are now parasites ‘flipping’ properties into rent by the room. Why do free marketeers never address the property market? This destroys the family unit 😢

[@ChefEarthenware]

Always be wary of someone who describes their political opponents as "mad". If they can't understand their opponents political positions, they probably don't understand their own.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Based Bongs

[@RichardABW]

Distinctive traditions: reminded me of the metric martyrs.

[@davidrobertson9271]

This guy is a poorly educated moron. Does he have tenure? Brexit is the most damaging thing to inflict this country for centuries.

[@barnham9388]

But what these two just don’t get is that the right wing part of the Brexit coalition wasn’t ever trying to achieve a long term right wing post-EU platform - they were manifestly a group of cynical people only looking out for themselves, totally devoid of any vision, but nor did they need one because there’s a reason why Brexit was sponsored by some of the most powerful demagogues in hedge fund management - they saw the instability that would come from a positive vote for Brexit as a vast opportunity. This version of the Tory Party didn’t even care that to align themselves in this way put aside a large proportion of their traditional vote at least in SE England and aligned them with many traditional Labour voters - because there was a short term result that the Conservative Brexiteers wanted, nor do they care what it might do to their long term electoral prospects, or the destruction of long term prosperity of Britain.

[@RJS4287]

Economic protectionism, social conservatism, strong nationalism, anti-university - sounds like Franco's Spain. And did that do well for the majority of its population?

[@johnnyb8825]

Radical progressivism isn't liberal in any way, shape of form.

[@plummetplum]

Brilliant man. But we need to replace the word of Elite with something less elitist 😂

[@ParcelOfRogue]

This small party squatting on the name and logo SDP, which is owned by the LibDems after the official merger, are standing 35 councillor candidates in may out of 7000. Will they win any? The LibDems are standing 4500 and the Greens 3000, Labour 6000

[@franktreml3145]

Who sold the railways, water and public housing? The Tories did this. If the SDP are worried about the ‘democratic deficit’ then what do they think about the monarchy and the House of Lords?

[@maxkreuznach7411]

When exploring the gist of Conservatism you find at its heart there is a lack of trust in the wisdom of people to make wise decisions. If that is your point of departure, you d have to welcome the European institutions that are designed to be paternalistic in the sense that they steer policies and make decisions without taking on board what European citizens want. Would that not be a genuinely conservative approach to policy making?

[@stevecass7575]

Good conversation. I agree with SDP's social conservatism (i.e. yes change, but slowly & understanding the consequences both intended and unintended). However, he is old enough to remember the shit show of the late 1970s when a democratically elected LABOUR government was held to ransom and blackmailed by luddite Marxist union bosses who controlled our utilities. William Coulson wants a return to that state of affairs (or at least its possibility) by renationalising the major utilities, thus handing the Unions the power of undemocratic blackmail once more. So I can't vote for him I'm afraid.

[@arthurtwyman5162]

sillllly

[@richardwillford2418]

Vote for Tarquin Fim Tim Lim Bim Wim Bim Lim Bus Stop Ftang Ftang Olé Biscuit Barrel. Your local Silly Party candidate!

[@LindaAndrews-ly1qf]

6:31 24:30 28:19

[@PMMagro]

So "the elite" is now bigger than ever before. Surely that is a good thing? I am not British so I might missunderstand parts. It seems to be hyperindividual the modern priorities. "What is best for me perosonally now looking only at this one thing?" Who cares about generally, the town, the region, long term... "Can't distinguish a country from a shop". Wow this is so spot on!

[@just_another32]

I know it will sound bonkers... but can't SDP and Reform UK form a temporary coalition and go for gold? I know there are huge differences... not least the fact that Reform UK is to the right on economics... But... honestly... this seems existential. Join forces and compromise... with the common interest of re-establishing DEMOCRACY.

[@chrisdavie8163]

No. I'm afraid it can't be done. Economics aside, the SDP has an actual philosophical approach to politics when the Reform Party is simply a reactionary and pragmatic machine. The best the voters can hope for is a party pact where one side steps down to let the other have a better chance of beating the establishment parties. It seems to be happening in some areas, even if Richard Tice was (and may still remain) very cold towards the idea...at the end of the day, no politician likes to be told to reduce their power for someone else.

[@just_another32]

Thanks for your reply, Chris. Of course, it makes sense (I knew my suggestion was bonkers on multiple fronts).. The SDP is virtually unheard of in my circles. Yet they've all heard of Reform UK (though they don't support it). SDP needs to do something or it will never stand a chance. You seem knowledgeable. Do you know if SDP has had much influence on things? For example, although UKIP and later the Brexit Party were not seat winners, they had a significant influence on British politics.

[@stuartperry-hughes5969]

Reform UK is nothing but a source of grift for Nigel Farage and Richard Tice

[@lenwilkinson672]

@@just_another32 The. 3 party’s have been strangling the country since the end of WW2 the system has to be completely eradicated.there is no independence in government.It’s all about the party nothing about the country,except to bring in as manny immigrants to change the face of our country our heritage,culture,way of life.even Christianity is being replaced by Islam.and it’s happening in front of our eyes without a squeak.

[@secretsteven4535]

@@just_another32 Most think the SDP folded in the late 1980s, were they to have a high-profile defector from one of the two main parties, that may give them a lift

[@davidlatimer539]

Ok..but Brexit happened ?

[@deepblue8081]

Not really. The Tories botched it

[@nigelhardy7218]

@@deepblue8081 As they botch everything.

[@plummetplum]

And why did it happen?

[@jantate6006]

🎉

[@franktreml3145]

Let me get this straight according to this debate I having lived in council housing when I was a kid, went to state school and then got to the LSE am now ‘elite’ and yet private school educated Farage and Eton boy Johnson are the ‘masses’ ?? 😂😂

[@davidrobertson9271]

….

[@Excommunicated-ei1ep]

Big fan of Matt Goodwin, been following for Years, I don’t know of the other Fella, but he seemed a decent enough British Patriot? But I still have to say, how much i absolutely Hate the name of your Party though… …you basically share the Same Name as the German: Social Democrat Party, a Post-National, Pro-EU/WEF, Global Corporate Marxist Political Party… …and you have about as much in Common with them? As the Liberal Party of Canada does, with the Liberal Party of Australia! I personally also have a Personal Rule of Thumb, to NEVER within a Fully Functioning Democracy, to EVER Vote for a Political Party with the Name “Democrat” or any variations of it, within its name… …why does a Political Party, feel the need to STILL Qualify itself as a “Democratic” Party…within an actual Democracy? By adding the Word “Democrat” to the Name of your Party? I learned this lesson the Hard Way, by the behaviour of Paddy Ashdown and his Lib “Dem’s” ever since 1991/92, during the Maastricht Treaty on European Union… …that Party has the Word: “Democrat” within its name and I can’t find, a MORE Post-Democratic Party within the UK? Except both the Tories and Labour…

[@brendanmcsweeney1]

Diversion - Meanwhile, thanks to Brexit which the SDP, Goodwin, et al. missold, GB's decline and isolation accelerates.

[@Martin-88]

It's nothing to do with Brexit. We're up shit creek because we printed a load of money during Covid which caused massive inflation.

[@mrror8933]

​@@Martin-88 brexit is making things worse.

[@Martin-88]

@@mrror8933 Give me an example

[@mrror8933]

@@Martin-88 there are so many examples, but let's start with this one: the UK is now a dumping ground for illegal migration because we're out of the Dublin convention.

[@Martin-88]

@@mrror8933 It was a dumping ground for illegals well before the vote to leave. So the top thing you can come up with is that immigrants are arriving as they always have done. Any other examples?

[@ParcelOfRogue]

The original and actual SDP, legally merged with the LibDems, were a little left of centre, but were never remotely culturally traditional. Their joint leader was Roy Jenkins who was very liberal and progressive. He introduced brilliant legislation as Home Secretary to allow people to divorce viably and to do away with anti gay legislation that criminalised people's sexuality.

[@robicjedi]

I understand that Starmer wants to fill the void and move to a culturally traditional direction, which could bring some success. There is quite a bit of backlash from the vocal leftists. However Starmer is keeping at the economic left despite all the criticism. The greens are on the left and 'woke', Labour must distinguish themselves and represent the non-elites. I am just very surprised that the SDP did not gain greater prominence. At the very least they should extract proportional representation from Labour.

[@jantate6006]

Beyond irrelevant

[@ParcelOfRogue]

These are not the real SDP. The real SDP came out of the Labour Party (moderates) then merged officially with the Liberal Party to form the LibDem, who own the property, name, logo, funds etc at the time of merger in late 1980's.

[@sidevans1]

You complain about the disdain shown by these elites, and then spend an hour slagging them off, calling them narcissists, egotists, arrogant, uncaring, selfish...