My recollection is that the merger was rushed by Steel, Owen wanted to take more time but some of the leading SDP members supported Steel's wish to tie the thing up quickly. I would not be surprised if it were Williams who tipped the balance as she is clearly far more pro the EU than the stated SDP position at the time which was 'In Europe, but not run by Europe' if my memory serves [and it usually doesn't].
Perhaps Steel was simply fed up with being depicted as the 'boy David' in relationship to the far more substantial David Owen.
If this is about right - it was something of a tragedy that Owen was unable to follow his instincts, for if he had been able to, we would have at least had one of the three main parties as eurosceptic.
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