It was 31 years ago today: Roy Jenkins and the Glasgow Hillhead by-election

Dr Alun Wyburn-Powell reminds us that today, as well as being my birthday, is the 31st anniversary of Roy Jenkins victory for the SDP in the Glasgow Hillhead by-election.

Which gives me an excuse for redeploying a favourite anecdote, first borrowed from Mr Eugenides (whose blog is now invitation only).

He wrote:

One of my all-time favourite political anecdotes concerns the 1982 Hillhead by election, for which the newly formed SDP selected their leader, Roy Jenkins, who had not hitherto been renowned for his connections with the city. 

Strolling around the west end of Glasgow, the urbane Jenkins entered a newsagent's and, sighting the Asian shopkeeper, went to proffer a handshake. "So, how long have you been here, then?", asked Jenkins, to which the owner replied evenly, "Longer than you".