The Gang of Four SDP

BBC Copywrite. 1981; the Labour opposition was in disarray, the Gang of four broke away to form a new party, the Social Democratic Party, later to be lead by the former Chancellor Roy Jenkins. The other three, David Owen, Bill Rodgers, and Shirley Williams.
This news film shows the party's first conference in front of the media - dated 26th March, 1981.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Roy
• Jenkins
• Shirley
• Williams
• Bill
• Rodgers
• David
• Owen
• Social
• Democratic
• Party
• SDP
• Gang
• of
• Four

[trevorx1960]

There was actually a gang of five . . the original four, plus David Owen's mirror. The latter was to be the undoing.

Now the Lib-Dems, are just Cameron posh poodles. The gang of four by leaving Labour retarded the purge of the nutters from Labour under Kinnoch, and turned the Libs into what they are today . . nothing like a Liberal party. Just a ready-piece in a right-wing Cameron jigsaw. The four spent their vanities without result.

[flametaledfox]

@trevorx1960 Ha ha, true about David Owen. However, Charles Kennedy is the most outspoken anti-tory Lib Dem in the House of Commons, and he was an SDP. Also, Shirley Willaims is rather uncertain about the coalition; and Roy Jenkins would have hated it. But David Owen would'nt have minded...

[lakshmimittal]

@flametaledfox I have just written a piece where I discuss, in general terms, the importance of a new centre ground in British politics. Roy Jenkins is my political hero, although I do not agree with everything he did. If you feel you would enjoy reading what I have written, I am more than happy to send it.

I believe in social democracy, and of it's relevance in British politics. So did Robin Cook, and many of the titans of the first term of New Labour. It can come back.

[flametaledfox]

@lakshmimittal Thanks for the message. I feel I would enjoy reading about the importance of a new centre party; have you written it as a book or an internet artcile?

[supremerat]

And yet we now have the Lib Dems... what a joke.

VOTE ONE NATIONAL FRONT

[flametaledfox]

@supremerat Your comment of the NF, similar to the SDP, is outdated misplaced and irrelevant to the real need.

[modtherod]

The SDP was a very necessary movement which moved us away from the old sytle dogmatic Labour party and a step away from the old class ridden and diviided britain which the tories also symbolized at that time.

Thank God for the SDP

[alanvt1]

Roy JenkinsMmm what an oppuntunist turd he was,Labour, SDP,Oh! and europe, paid well! national interest? self interest came first! ....low IQ (house of lords/ v Margaret Thatcher reading verbatim from notes....dustbin of history comes to mind!

[Marnerbanana]

JUDAS, JUDAS EVERYWHERE!

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

ha ha bye bye Labour Party. You soom changed your sociliast policies after FOUR ELECTION DEFEATS!

[Feisty1967]

@trevorx1960 I agree entirely with what you said.

[NotHomelessAnymore]

I hate this lot almost as much as the Tony Blair and Nick Clegg. They might aswell have joined the Conservative Party for what good they did.

[rfitzhen100]

Four useless bunch of tossers

[Svetlanka83]

@flametaledfox On David Owen i actually saw an interview with him recently where he was praising Ed Millibands leadership and was considering rejoining Labour, although i don't think many would welcome him back as for Shirley Williams i think her careers over now sheshould  leave the Lib Dems and just sit as an Indepenant in the House of Lords rather than support this coaltion. In fact if AV fails i think this may happen