Warwick University Society Begins
Campaigns Organiser, Adam Williams
October 1st 2025, the day the SDP formally entered student politics. Four brave and determined students have taken up the torch of the SDP at Warwick University, led by Jack Napper, now Chair of the Society, they have established themselves at the university, even in the face of hostility and opposition from the Student Union representatives.
They were present at the Freshers day events, where they managed to negotiate the space of a stall with the University on both days. They were met with great success, and had plenty of engaging conversations with students from all different walks of life and political opinions! They are now consolidating their numbers and recruiting those interested into the society and the party at large.
The society has piqued the interest of the student body, and there will be much more to come.
Watch this space.
Why You're (Probably) A Social Democrat
On Monday, the North West held their first public event titled “Why You’re (Probably) a Social Democrat” in Manchester city centre. Hilary Salt, Dickie Fletcher, and Sebastian Moore each gave a speech before a Q&A with the audience. The evening was a real success with lively discussion, new faces, and plenty of enthusiasm in the room.
We’d love to see more events like this happening across the country. They’re a brilliant way to reach new people and showcase what the party is about. If you’re interested in running something in your region, the North West team is happy to give feedback on what worked.
Why Britain Must Put Children First
In Molly's speech at the conference, she argued for putting children and long-term thinking at the heart of politics. Drawing on her experience with UsForThem, she highlighted the pandemic’s exposure of short-termism and a collective failure of courage in decision-making, and how these patterns appear across society in parenting, education, health, and immigration.
Her message was that we need a radical rebalancing of political priorities to protect future generations, guided by faith, courage, and resilience.
Sdp On Tour: Politics In Pubs
On Tuesday, we headed to Newcastle for a Politics in Pubs event, where Hilary Salt spoke on “Today’s Trade Unions: Whose Side Are They On?” It was a great evening with a lively discussion and a chance to meet some of our North East members in person.
Events like this are a fantastic way to raise the party’s profile and connect with people who share our outlook. If there’s something similar happening near you or if you’d like to organise an event locally, we’d love to support it. You can even invite one of the leadership team to come along and speak.
Did Thatcher Save Or Destroy Britain?
William was recently invited by Harrison Pitt to put up a rebuttal to Lord Charles Moore, biographer of Margaret Thatcher, on the legacy of the Iron Lady.
In the video, Charles Moore outlines the case that Thatcher saved Britain through principled leadership and urgent economic reforms. William counters that, in treating Britain too much like a profit-seeking enterprise, she did abiding damage to social cohesion and national identity. Who is correct?
New Conference Videos Now Live
In the latest video from our conference, Rod Liddle sits down with Henry Bolton, the SDP’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, to discuss how Britain lost its diplomatic influence, and how to win it back. From his years in the army and Foreign Office, Henry offers a candid insider’s view on what went wrong with UK foreign policy, the dangers of virtue signalling abroad, and why rebuilding a serious diplomatic corps is essential for Britain’s future role in the world.
And in another coneference video that just went live, SDP Regeneration Spokesperson Alastair Mellon and Liam Halligan join Ross Baglin to discuss the housing crisis.
Get Tickets For Manchester Event
We are helping to organise a Battle of Ideas satellite event on Tuesday 4th November titled Flags, Boats and Votes: Are Patriotism and the Nation State Back? (7:00 – 9:00pm at the Ape & Apple, 28-30 John Dalton St, Manchester M2 6HQ).
The discussion will explore whether patriotism and the nation-state are undergoing a revival or simply masking deeper problems of identity, belonging, and division. It’s a strong fit with our social democratic values and the questions we’re raising about culture, solidarity and national priorities.
It’d be great if you could come, or if you know someone in the region who might be interested, please pass this on. Click here to get tickets
Should We Ban Smartphones For Children?
Smartphones are everywhere but what are they doing to our kids? In the latest SDPtalk, campaigner and actress Sophie Winkelman joins William Clouston to expose how screen addiction is reshaping childhood, from damaged attention spans and lost sleep to rising anxiety and speech delays. They explore the evidence, the role of schools and parents, and why some countries are turning back from the digital classroom.
Help Us Grow Online
One of the easiest and most effective ways to help the party is by sharing our content. Every like, repost, and comment helps more people discover the party and when members share SDP stories, videos, and ideas on their own feeds, it makes a real difference.
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You can also help by creating content for us to share, whether that’s a short clip, a photo from a local event, or a post explaining why you support the party. The more authentic voices we have online, the stronger our message becomes.
We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help with social media: scheduling posts, designing simple graphics, and keeping our channels active. If you’ve got a bit of time and want to help grow the movement, reply to this email. We’d love to have you involved.
William has been on many podcasts recently. Click the links below to watch them:
The Current Thing with Nick Dixon