List of Social Democratic Party (UK) MPs

This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) who represented the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the United Kingdom Parliament. The SDP was formed in 1981 by disillusioned Labour Party politicians and merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats.

This list includes MPs who:

• Were elected as SDP MPs.
• Defected from other parties to the SDP.

Notable SDP MPs included:

• Roy Jenkins: One of the "Gang of Four" who founded the SDP. A former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary.
• David Owen: Another of the "Gang of Four" and later leader of the SDP. Served as Foreign Secretary in the Labour government.
• Shirley Williams: One of the "Gang of Four," a prominent figure in Labour's right wing before joining the SDP. Held various ministerial positions in Labour governments.
• Bill Rodgers: Another of the "Gang of Four" and a former Labour cabinet minister.

The SDP experienced a period of electoral success in the early to mid-1980s, often in alliance with the Liberal Party. However, the party failed to achieve a breakthrough and its support dwindled, leading to the merger with the Liberals.

A comprehensive list of SDP MPs, including their constituencies and terms of service, can typically be found in historical parliamentary records and political science databases. Specific resources such as Dod's Parliamentary Companion for the relevant years, archival materials, and websites dedicated to UK parliamentary history often provide this information. Further research may be required to compile a complete list.