By Charlie Simpson | April 22, 2026
In an exclusive interview, I spoke at length with William Clouston, leader of the Social Democratic Party, about the future of his party and a range of other issues.
In my first question I asked him about Keir Starmer and the Mandelson scandal. William was clear: Keir Starmer should resign as Prime Minister. He also said he found it interesting listening to Olly Robbins the previous day at the Foreign Affairs Committee.
When I asked about the party’s plans following the local elections, William told me the SDP is working towards a general election in 2029. The party intends to stand around 600 candidates across the country, with the logistical aim of securing between 100,000 and 250,000 votes and winning at least one parliamentary seat. The SDP is also building towards having tens of thousands of members in time for the next general election. In the May local elections the party wants to prove it can hold on to the ground it has already gained. It also plans to raise significant funds over the summer.
At the last general election the SDP had an electoral pact with Reform UK, making it the only political party to have done so to date. Over the past few months, both Conservatives and Reform supporters have called for a pact between Reform and the Tories. I asked William whether he had any words of warning for those hoping to see such an agreement. He replied that it is not in the Tories’ DNA to do pacts, and that history suggests the Conservatives tend to recover slowly.
When Restore Britain launched as a movement rather than a party, William Clouston sat on its advisory board. He later resigned when it became a formal party, for obvious reasons. I asked him whether he would be willing to work with Restore Britain. He said he likes Rupert Lowe and would be open to discussing an electoral pact. “They’ve got my number,” he added, “I’ve got their number.”
One question every political leader is asked is whether they ever see themselves becoming Prime Minister. William’s response was thoughtful and measured. “There is a possibility,” he said, “but only after the SDP makes very steady progress at the next election and the one after that.” Unlike many leaders, he did not rush to give an immediate yes. His main task, he explained, is to build the SDP into a truly national political party that is ready for the next general election.
Many people say 2029 represents our last chance to save the country. When I asked William how much time Britain has before it is too late, his reply was notably calmer than most. He said it is never too late to be saved, pointing to the rise and fall of nations throughout history. He cited Germany at the end of 1945 as a example: “just twenty years later the country was undergoing an industrial revolution and its cities were thriving once again.”
Overall, my assessment of the interview is that William Clouston is optimistic about Britain’s future. He intends to spend the next few years positioning the SDP as a genuine alternative to the main parties, while also improving the party’s media presence – something he himself admits it currently lacks.
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