Shirley POLITICAL leader Shirley Williams, who died today aged 90, played a huge role in a key part of Warrington s political history. Back in 1981, Warrington was at the heart 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 four – Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers – who were responsible for splitting the Labour party, visited the town to join the by-election campaign trail. As a Labour minister, Lady Williams, served in the governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan in the 1970s rising to become education secretary.