Big election loss 'could see SDP-style breakaway'
THE Labour Party could fracture as badly as it did in 1981 if the party suffers a heavy loss at the next election, Lord Ashdown warned today.
As a bruising week for Gordon Brown draws to a close, the former Liberal Democrat leader said Labour faces a "heart and soul battle" if it loses power and faces an SDP-style breakaway.
In 1981 Labour MPs opposed to Michael Foot's leadership – led by the "Gang of Four", which included David Owen – defected from Labour to set up the SDP.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 19 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
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