Dear All
One of the most recognisable leaders of the Labour Party was Michael Foot.
At the age of 96 he has passed away, elected in 1980, he had a brief spell as leader and stood down after a heavy Labour defeat against Margaret Thatcher.
Although best known to the wider public as a politician, he was also a prolific writer.
He first entered Parliament in 1945 and his career as an MP spanned 42 years.
A lifelong peace campaigner and left wing rebel, he was never cut out to be a leader and led Labour during one of the most turbulent periods.
Under him, senior Labour figures on the right of the party broke away and form the infamous ‘gang of four’ that founded the SDP.
It is unfair that he will be remembered politically for the 1983 left wing manifesto dubbed “the longest suicide note in history".
But politics is rarely kind to those in public office as the old maxim applies, ‘all political careers end in failure’.
Despite this, he should be remembered as one of the greatest Parliamentary orators and debaters, in the days before spin and soundbyte, he could actually argue his case.
Conservative leader David Cameron paid tribute by describing Mr Foot as a "remarkable man".
He said;
"I'm obviously not old enough to have been in the House of Commons at the same time, but reading some of his speeches (they) were incredibly powerful."
And Cameron went further;
"He was a very intelligent, witty, amusing and thoughtful man."
He was a proper parliamentarian.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
One of the most recognisable leaders of the Labour Party was Michael Foot.
At the age of 96 he has passed away, elected in 1980, he had a brief spell as leader and stood down after a heavy Labour defeat against Margaret Thatcher.
Although best known to the wider public as a politician, he was also a prolific writer.
He first entered Parliament in 1945 and his career as an MP spanned 42 years.
A lifelong peace campaigner and left wing rebel, he was never cut out to be a leader and led Labour during one of the most turbulent periods.
Under him, senior Labour figures on the right of the party broke away and form the infamous ‘gang of four’ that founded the SDP.
It is unfair that he will be remembered politically for the 1983 left wing manifesto dubbed “the longest suicide note in history".
But politics is rarely kind to those in public office as the old maxim applies, ‘all political careers end in failure’.
Despite this, he should be remembered as one of the greatest Parliamentary orators and debaters, in the days before spin and soundbyte, he could actually argue his case.
Conservative leader David Cameron paid tribute by describing Mr Foot as a "remarkable man".
He said;
"I'm obviously not old enough to have been in the House of Commons at the same time, but reading some of his speeches (they) were incredibly powerful."
And Cameron went further;
"He was a very intelligent, witty, amusing and thoughtful man."
He was a proper parliamentarian.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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