Page "Social Democratic Party (UK)" Paragraph 17

At the party's first electoral contest, Jenkins narrowly failed to win a by-election at Warrington in July 1981, describing it as his " first defeat, but by far ( his ) greatest victory ".

In the Glasgow Hillhead by-election in March 1982, another candidate named Roy Jenkins was nominated by Labour Party activists to contest the seat in order to confuse voters and split his potential vote.

SDP polling agents were given special dispensation by the Returning Officer to have placards outside of polling stations to state which one on the ballot papers was the ' real Roy '.

Ultimately, the SDP's Jenkins was elected.