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| Affiliation | Liberal Democrats |
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| Name | Mike Thomas |
| Address |
, , United Kingdom |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
May 24, 1944
(79 years)
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| Contributor | Old LW |
| Last Modifed | New Jerusalem
Mar 18, 2012 01:54pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | British politician, identified with the Labour Party until 1981 and thereafter with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He became well known for his role in both the establishment of the SDP and then in the SDP's subsequent demise. The SDP's leader, Roy Jenkins, referred to Thomas as the "pint-sized Pavarotti", on the basis of his stocky build and beard together with his aggressive manner.
Along with Ian Wrigglesworth he was credited with masterminding the party's successful launch. As a member of the SDP's national steering committee he assumed a prominent role in the selection of SDP candidates for the forthcoming general election. He also assumed a prominent role in negotiations with the Liberal Party concerning the sharing out of constituency candidacies between the two parties. The terms of an SDP/Liberal alliance was critical to the electoral success of both. Thomas quickly became known for his obduracy in the seat negotiations with the Liberals. In July 1981 it was reported that senior Liberals were quietly seething at the suggestion from Mike Thomas that half the prospective parliamentary candidates already adopted by local Liberal associations should stand down in favour of SDP members.
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