Limehouse Declaration
The Limehouse Declaration was a statement issued on 25 January 1981 by four senior British Labour politicians, all MPs or former MPs and Cabinet Ministers: Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams.[1] It became known as the Limehouse Declaration as it was made from David Owen's London home in Limehouse.[1]
In this document the so-called 'Gang of Four' signalled their intent to leave the Labour Party and form a Council for Social Democracy, as they felt the party had been taken over by the left-wing members.[2] This Council became the basis for the British Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The declaration was launched on a small bridge on Narrow Street, Limehouse. Organisation was very last minute with Matthew Oakshott being sent to make photocopies of the statement at the Savoy Hotel, it having the closest available photocopier, and visiting the flat of Shirley Williams to find appropriate clothes for her to wear at the press call. Public response was very positive with a reported 8000 letters of support in the first week.[3]
The Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was made up of:
| Name (Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Constituency | Previous Office(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) |
 |
Glasgow Hillhead from 1982 | Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (1970–1972) Chancellor of the Exchequer (1967–1970) Home Secretary (1965–1967, 1974–1976) Minister of Aviation (1964–1965) |
| David Owen (1938–) |
 |
Plymouth Devonport | Foreign Secretary (1977–1979) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (1976–1977) Minister of State for Health and Social Security (1974–1976) Under-Secretary of State for the Navy (1968–1970) |
| Bill Rodgers (1928–) |
Stockton-on-Tees | Transport Secretary (1976–1979) Minister of State for Defence (1974–1976) Minister of State for the Treasury (1969–1970) Minister of State for Trade (1968–1969) Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1964–1967) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1967–1968) | |
| Shirley Williams (1930–) |
 |
Crosby | Education Secretary and Paymaster General (1976–1979) Prices and Consumer Secretary (1974–1976) Minister of State of Home Affairs (1969–1970) Minister of State for Education and Science (1967–1969) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Local Government (1966–1967) |
References
- 1 2 Ley, Shaun (January 12, 2011). "The legacy of the SDP's Gang of Four". BBC News.
- ↑ "Looking back on Limehouse". The Guardian. January 21, 2006.
- ↑ Campbell, John (2014). Roy Jenkins- A well Rounded Life. Jonathan Cape. pp. 558–9. ISBN 978-0-224-08750-6.
External links
Works related to Limehouse Declaration at Wikisource