The SDP promised to break the mould of British Politics. But, after seven turbulent years, it dissolved amidst acrimony and bitter in-fighting. Ivor Crewe and Anthony King, Britains best-known political commentators, chart for the first time the extraordinary story of the early success and ultimate demise of the SDP.

`In the hands of Crewe and King, the story of the SDP is more than a gripping narrative. Apart from providing a concise summary of the party's organization ... they also subject the motives of the original defectors to a convincing analysis ... Crewe and King display considerable ingenuity in testing less obvious factors, such as potential earnings outside parliament, membership of the trade unions, local government experience, and the defector's place of residence.' Government and Opposition `Crewe and King present a very detailed history of this strange enterprise to create a centre party, including five appendices and numerous comprehensive notes ... There is unlikely to be a better history of the SDP written in the future.' Parliamentary Affairs `a magisterial work - a definitive account of a remarkable episode in British political history ... It is full of 'inside dope' and tackles every question that one could think to ask about the SDP ... the book is splendidly written and is a thoroughly good read. It is full of excellent character sketches.' David Denver, EPOP Newsletter, January 1997 `This book charts the birth, brief life and death of the SDP and will be instructive reading for the large number of MCD members who want to see a Christian Democrat Party arise out of a supporting and continuing Movement.' The Christian Democrat `as a near-definitive piece of contemporary political history it would be hard to better' John Stevenson, Worcester College, Oxford, Contemporary British History, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring '96 `They set out to tell the story of the S.D.P., and to place it in the context of late twentieth-century British politics. They do so meticulously and with a feast of detail on electoral support, party membership, and of course the dealings and wheelings of the principal actors. S.D.P. is an impressive account, and its judgements are in general astute and well balanced.' Rodney Barker