The political experience of the SDP’s Gang of Four and the ‘Independent’ Group of 2019
The political party that was briefly called ‘Change UK’ and then several other names and now no longer exists was formed a year ago today.
Obviously I was no fan but that doesn’t mean that casting a preliminary historical eye over the adventure should be ignored.
One comparison that could be made is with the earlier split from Labour of the SDP. On the face of it, the basis of it and the ideas were in some, perhaps most, cases, quite similar.
The eventual fate of both parties was exactly the same. However the SDP of course did come quite close to ‘breaking the mould’ of British politics. Change UK did not
I was no fan of the SDP but at least they had serious politicians and a quite specific and quite detailed take on politics.
Moreover politicians like Bill Rodgers had spent several decades building support and networks on the right of the labour movement which meant that at least up to a point the SDP had some grassroots support, while Change UK had none. Of course the decision as to whether to split or stay in Labour was one which bedevilled the SDP. Change UK had no such issue.
Below is a brief comparison, made exactly a year ago of the political experience at senior level of leading members of the SDP and Change UK
SDP: Political Experience
Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Bill Rodgers, Defence Minister, Transport Secretary
David Owen, Foreign Secretary
Shirley Williams, Education Secretary
‘Independent’ Group. Political Experience
Chris Leslie, Under Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
Angela Smith, none
Luciana Berger, none
Chuka Umunna, none
Mike Gapes, none
Gavin Shuker, none
Ann Coffey, Parliamentary Private Secretary
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