Rob Wilson has denied in Parliament ever being a member of the SDP after being accused of being one in a debate on the Sale of Student Loans Bill, despite standing as an SDP candidate for Redlands in local elections.

Stephen Williams: Like me, the hon. Member for Reading, East got interested in politics in the 1980s — I believe that we were in the same party at that point.
Mr. Wilson: No, we were not.
Stephen Williams: We have been in the same party at one point.
Mr. Wilson: No, we have not.
Stephen Williams: We were both members of the Social Democratic party once.
Mr. Wilson: No, I was not.
Stephen Williams: I stand corrected.

The debate ended when the division cock crowed as Rob denied David Owen three times.
A former member of the SDP who refused to be named told us: "The impetuousness of youth; having principles; believing in something. I soon grew out of that, so did Rob. That's why we joined the Tory party. Ian Smith rest in peace."