IT is almost 40 years since the last major resignations from the Labour party.

Today seven MPs said they could no longer be in the party and added that they would stand under the Independent Party banner.

But back in 1981, Warrington played a major role in the first act of the renowned 'gang of four' who established the Social Democratic Party in the UK.

The political eyes of the country were focused on Warrington as the gang of four - Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers - who were responsible for splitting the Labour party, visited the town to join the campaign.

Lord Jenkins was the SDP candidate in the notorious Warrington North by-election of 1981, when Doug Hoyle, seeking election for Labour only narrowly held on to the traditionally strong Labour seat.

After a closely fought battle, Labour held on to the seat with a majority of less than 2,000.

READ > I will not be bullied out of Labour - MP says independent group is 'wrong' 

Lord Jenkins served as both Home Secretary and Chancellor under Labour Governments in the 1960s and oversaw radical social reforms on issues such as abortion, divorce, homosexuality and penal reform.

Speaking after the death of Lord Jenkins, Lord Hoyle said that he found him to be extremely charming when they were on the campaign trail.

He added: "He was obviously a person of great ability and it was an historic by-election, one that we were successful in winning, albeit it with a reduced majority.

"It was a turning point for the Labour party because if we had lost that seat we would have lost more members.

"When we met again in the House of Lords the first thing he asked was about Warrington."