 Welsh Labour's problems were further compounded by a strong SDP-Liberal Alliance performance, gaining 23 per cent of the vote (albeit to little benefit in terms of seats) at what was to be the height of their success.The miners' strike of 1984–1985 appeared to present Welsh Labour with an electoral opportunity, despite the invidious position in which the nature of the action placed the new Labour leader, Neil Kinnock.At the 1987 General Election the party polled 45 per cent, winning 24 seats, with a further two from the Conservatives at by elections in 1989 and 1991.