File containing correspondence and other papers relating to the 1982 SDP leadership election, including:

• Memorandum for Steering Committee members on a timetable for the leadership election, 8 Mar 1982, with MS annotations by David Owen
• Copy of Roy Jenkins' statement in support of his candidature
• Signed nomination form in support of David Owen's candidature
• Drafts of statements concerning the leadership election, including statements in support of a one member one vote ballot to decide the leadership; statement on Roy Jenkins' victory
• Letters from Robert Maclennan, 10 May 1982, Bill Rodgers, 11 May 1982, and John Horam, 14 May 1982, urging David Owen not to stand against Roy Jenkins in leadership contest; with MS draft of letter from David Owen replying to John Horam's letter and copy of Mike Thomas' letter in response to Horam's letter
• List of SDP MPs with notes as to which candidate they support
• Copy of proposed letters to members and ballot paper for the leadership ballot, Jun 1982
• Copy of press release on David Owen's acceptance of his nomination for the leadership, listing MPs in support of the nomination, 10 Jun 1982
• MS drafts of letter from David Owen to Roy Jenkins, 2 Jul 1982, with thoughts on the leadership election, and memories of their political relationship in the Labour Party and the SDP
• Letters to David Owen from SDP MPs concerning the leadership election; including letters from Eric Ogden, Ednyfed Hudson-Davies, and Tom McNallysupporting Owen's candidature; letters of commiseration from Bill Rodgers, John Grant and Neville Sandelson following ballot result; also letter of commiseration from Conservative MP Alan Clark on ballot result
• Inner file labelled 'leadership letters': letters to David Owen from members of the public supporting his candidature for SDP leadership and commiserating with him on the election result, with copies of David Owen's replies
• Further notes/memorandum on the leadership election