David Owen founder of the breakaway SDP has pledged to back the Labour Party party
| Labour turncoat David Owen |
This duplicitous conspirator left the
Labour Party with the others in the "Gang of 4" when it
became perfectly clear to him that he would never be the leader of
the Party. Following the CLPD reforms on the questions of MP's
reselection and the election of Party leader, (to mention but 2 of
the other democratic changes to the Party Constitution made at the
time), he along with Roy Jenkins, William Rodgers and Shirley
Williams, left the Labour Party to form the Social Democratic Party,
which was neither “democratic” or “social” but which was
created simply as a vehicle for them to satisfy and promote their own
inflated ego's. Ironically, one of the names considered for the new
party following the “Limehouse Declaration” was New Labour. The name and the political "morals" so enthusiastically endorsed and adopted by Blair to promote the Labour Party more than a decade later.
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| The "Gang of four" |
I was a CLP delegate at a special one
day Party Conference at Wembley, shortly before the departure of the
“Gang of 4” and the other 28 Labour MP's. It was clearly evident
then that Owen and the others had no place in the new, fresh Labour
party, where principle and integrity were more important than
personal position. Where policy was something to be constantly
advocated, not just because it was popular but because it was right.
Owen's speech to the delegates that day was a disaster. It must have
been as clear as crystal to him that the game was up and that he and
the others had to go. He was fortunate indeed to leave that
conference in one piece. The SDP as it became was never troubled by
principle or policy and was able to change either as easily as
someone might change their underwear.
With Owen now being welcomed as an
“Independant Social Democrat” in the House of Lords, but
supporting the Labour Party (and making a substantial donation to
party funds), and with Miliband stating, “I have come to value his
friendship and insight.”, it is clear that the Labour Party has
gone full circle and now returns to the pre reform days of the
1970's, where self interest is the norm and the Parliamentary Labour
Party is just a very comfortable club for the privileged few. The
interests and aspirations of ordinary people in this country are
abandoned for preservation of the political status quo.
How long will it be before the
“Miliband reforms”, are broadened to remove the automatic
reselection of MP's by the Constituency Party, and the situation of a
“job for life” for Labour MP's can be restored?
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