On This Day
August 29, 1987
Robert Maclennan is elected last leader of the SDP
Earlier in the month the SDP had voted in favour of merger with the Liberals by 57% to 43%. SDP leader David Owen describing the vote as a folly and a great tragedy resigned the leadership leaving Maclennan as the only candidate nominated to succeed him. Maclennan led the SDP in the negotiations with the Liberals and continued to lead the party until the two parties merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats in March 1988.