History And Events

History is often seen as a series of cyclical events, repeating themselves over and over .....

SDP Formation 1981 - Gang Of Four - Last Labour Split.

So it also appears to be for political parties.

The Labour Party at the end of the 1970's was in turmoil and in January 1981 a number of leading (and not so leading) figures, split from the party to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The reasons given for this breakaway from traditional Labour included 'the necessity for a realignment in British politics'.

However there were other reasons, such as a perception of general corruption in the Labour party, where local nepotism was believed to have put a number of existing MP's at risk of de-selection in the North East of England. While in the North West (particularly the Mersey-side region), a left wing grouping  known as the Militant Tendency were thought to be systematically targeting weak local party branches in safe seat areas, in order to have their own candidates selected, and thus become MPs.

Eventually the issue of militant tendency was beaten by the next Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who with the Unions blessings, expelled a number of activists (the issue in the North East, seems to have resolved itself, or been ignored). The SDP eventually collapsed into a merger with the Liberal Party (renamed Liberal Democrats) and the great realignment of UK politics never occurred.

The Independent Group - Magnificent Seven Or Mighty Minnows?

But this week, seven MPs have resigned from the Labour Party (henceforth to be known as 'the Independent Group'), ostensibly in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit and anti-Semitism (they are against both). But it is also apparent that they too think that there should be a realignment of UK politics, as they have urged others in their ex-party to 'join them in "building a new politics".'

They have differentiated themselves from the old SDP split, by stating that would be "no merger" with the Liberal Democrats. Their website states that their aim was to "pursue policies that are evidence-based, rather than led by ideology".

However, its impossible not to look underneath this claim, to note that the Labour Party has been hijacked from the top by a far left grouping known as Momentum. Unlike Militant Tendency they were not beaten back by a Labour Leader, but rather were let in by internal voting changes instigated by ex leader Ed Milliband, that allowed grass roots members to vote Jeremy Corbyn into the party leadership role. Previously, sitting MP's had a block on this sort of outcome i.e. the grass roots were presented with whom they could vote for from the MP ballot.

So despite the latest breakaway being claimed as being distinctly different, any dispassionate onlooker would mark that in fact the political conditions were the same:

1. A great European debate going on such as Brexit - last time it was the start of the Federal Europe debate initiated by Roy Jenkins.
2. The Labour Party centre left faction members facing de-selection and a party take over e.g. The Movement have succeeded where last time Militant Tendency failed.
3. Doctrinal splits between those breaking away and those staying - centre left vs Ultra left.   

..... and has prompted the same outcome. A split.

Now it has to be said that the breakaway grouping in 1981 was made up of very senior Labour party members, who were household names, and all of whom had served in government high office. Whereas this new faction are almost unknown outside the Westminster groupies and political hacks .... so their impact may be slight, unless they garner more support*.

Of course, Corbyns allies make take the chance to complete their coup by de-selecting many more sitting MP's who are seen as the enemy within, and this could accelerate the splits .... but we will have to wait and see.    

Ironically, it was Karl Marx who misquoted the old adage about history, saying that "History repeats itself, first as tragedy then as a farce".... Of course the farce is that to a man and woman, the Labour and Conservatives MP's who have split into this new grouping, want to have a 'peoples referendum' (although I always thought that's what the EU referendum was?), over Brexit, while not one of them is willing to have a by-election in their own parliamentary seats, claiming that their victories under a different parties banner are still valid ..... hypocrites!!

* Even as the ink dried on this post, three nondescript Conservatives joined them ..... oh, and another Labour MP, Ian Austin has left the party, but "has no plans to join the Independent Group."