Anthony Crossland and the SDP

[Deleted member 157939]

Hey everybody. Ive recently been researching on Anthony Crossland, who was a prominent figure in the Labour Party, aligning himself on the Social Democratic wing of the organisation, considered a potential future leader before his tragic unforeseeable death in 1977. Having died a few years prior to the Labour split, and formation of the SDP, it begs the question how would a surviving Crossland affect the formation of the SDP? The SDP could be much smaller or could possibly have never of existed. On the flip would there be any possibility of his defection, while I am inclined to believe he would remained in the party, in a similar position to Healey as an established member of Old Labour, however the possibility of an SDP involving Crossland is quite interesting and I am considering exploring it in a TL. Furthermore it has recently been implicated that Jenkin's and Crossland's relationship may of even been sexual in university. Perhaps a psychologically affected/more erratic Crossland, recovering from a coma following a haemorrhage, opts to defect to the SDP, maybe even swayed by his alleged former lover. What do you guys think of such possibilities?

 

[nezza]

From what I understand about Crosland he was a revisionist who believed that Capitalism should be a driving force. If he had not had a stroke then there is every possibility he could have taken over from Callaghan as Labour leader. Had he done so I believe that he would have started to steer the party in a more social-democratic direction. That would have allowed the "Gang of Four" to remain within Labour. While I doubt very much that Labour would have won the 1983 election they wouldn't have been shattered as they were under Michael Foot.

 

[marktaha]

Crosland living on would mean David Owen remaining unknown. Think he'd have stayed Labour but come third for leader in 1980.