Owen, David (1938-...), is a British politician who led the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from 1983 to 1987. He resigned as leader after SDP members voted to merge with the Liberal Party (now the Liberal Democrats). The Liberal Party and the SDP had worked as partners in two general elections. Owen, who helped found the original SDP, became leader of a new SDP in 1988. He disbanded the party after a poor showing in elections in 1990.