SDP - is this the party for me?

[JustFrustrated]

I can't vote labour
I can't vote lib Dems
I can't vote green

I don't want to vote Tory.

I was recommended to look at SDP via a Twitter thread...

Thought I'd share their policy page for anyone politically homeless like me:

sdp.org.uk/policies/

Under trans:

sdp.org.uk/policies/transgender-and-biological-sex-based-rights/

"these rights must be balanced against the need of natal females for safety and sporting fairness. Biological sex is real and politically significant. This requires an absolute stance on relevant legal definitions in some domains"

POLICY PLEDGES:
Transgender individuals wishing to change their legal sex should be allowed to do so. However, we support the continued necessity for medical gatekeeping in any legal change of sex marker. We oppose proposals that would allow someone to change their legal sex by self-identification only.
We support segregation by biological sex in sport. Fair competition is not secured if male-bodied transgender athletes are permitted to compete in women’s sport and, in the case of contact sports, the risk of injury can increase significantly.
We support segregation by biological sex in prisons and women’s refuges in order to safeguard the safety and privacy of natal females. Separate prisons or prison accommodation should be provided for transgender citizens to ensure their safety and privacy.
Healthcare spending and resources for gender dysphoric individuals, including long-term psychological intervention, should be provided at sufficient levels. Physical or drug-based medical treatments for gender dysphoria should be prohibited for anyone under 18 years of age.
We support the retention of biological sex and gender identity as distinct categories in public sector data gathering such as crime statistics, poverty metrics or public health research.
We support the use of plain English for discussions of biological sex in health and reproductive care.

I feel like I'm probably missing something major.

Anyone have any suggestions of other parties to look at? Or why these would be a bad party?

Are they fielding a candidate in every constituency, OP? And realistically, what are their chances of actually winning a seat, let alone a majority?
By mopping up Labour votes, they may simply hand the Conservatives a larger majority. But at least that keeps Starmer and his misogynistic crew out of office.

I agree. I've joined the SDP (did so last year).

I'm hoping desperately that they field a candidate in my area next election.

I don't think they do have an MP in every constituency, that's a good point!

I can't not vote, that's against all my principles

If labour lose enough votes they may start listening?

Somewhere in my memory, is a notion that there's something dodgy about them despite the name. Can't remember what it is.

Following with interest.......

I'm having the same problem OP. I'd vote SDP if there was a candidate in my area but sadly not.

I think I'm going to have to spoil next time.

The oroginal SDP was founded by Shirley Williams (RIP) David Owen and co in 1981. They merged with the Liberals in 1988 to form the LibDems, but small splinters of both refused to merge and established continuity parties. In the case of the SDP, this was led by David Owen but when he got fewer votes than Lord Such in a by-election, he called it a day.

The current incarnation is SDP3, and its most prominent member is ex-UKIP Patrick O'Flynn who fell out with Farage and flounced.

Yes a lot of ex ukipers and their policies are random and a bit too much on the family values= women stay at home side unfortunately

We have the WEP. Oh wait......

They had one job!

Ah! The good old SDP Id forgotten about them. I'll look out for them thanks for the reminder for some reason I always get them mixed up with the SWP who are totally different.
And whatever happened to the WEP have they gone adrift now? Bloody useless they were.

Yes, their family values stuff grates with me, somewhat. They want to build 100,000 social housing homes and give them to married families.

There isnt a candidate in my area. So back to the drawing board for me.

At least the SDP aren't captured.
Kathleen Stock, Claire Fox and Lionel Shriver are speaking at their conference in November as well as Frank Furedi - who I haven't heard of but he seems to have been busy exploring culture wars and the politicisation of identity in recent months.

If nothing's changed and the SDP put up a candidate in my area at the next election I'll be voting for them. I'm a single issue voter until this shitstorm no longer poses a threat to women and children.

I joined a while ago as they're the only party (apart from Tories) who show themselves to be remotely gender critical. I don't think they're fielding a candidate near me, so I'm not quite sure what will happen once an election is called (but I'm in Devon, so they have plenty of time).

They have asked if people are interested in becoming candidates, so you could look into that.

PatsArrow, I think we just have to keep a close eye on them and comment whenever there's an opportunity to do so. I'm not happy about the UKIP connection.

I joined at least partly because of my admiration for Shirley Williams.

UKIP was a single issue party for many of those that were in it. I suspect many members did not necessarily align on other issues.

I would love to say that my I cannot imagine one issue being so important to me that I would put aside other things, but I am beginning to see how that might be possible!

It is also unsettling to see their desire for strict immigration controls -but then you understand why they say this when you understand how social democratic principles (and socialism for that matter) cannot be implemented effectively with porous borders.

I find the SDP policies have really challenged me and made me think.