David Owen's Political Journey

David Owen's remarkable political journey spans over four decades, beginning as a Labour MP in 1966 and culminating in his role as the youngest foreign secretary in British history at age 37. In 1981, feeling that the Labour Party had veered too far left, he co-founded the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to offer a centrist alternative. Owen believed that both Labour and the Conservatives failed to address the evolving needs of the British electorate and sought to create a new political platform that combined elements from both sides of the spectrum. His departure marked a significant shift in British politics and raised questions about the viability of new political movements amidst entrenched party loyalties.