Michael Foot 1913 - 2010

My political awareness began in 1981. With a general election in Ireland, I started to take notice of the political realities both here and the UK. Britain was coming to terms with Mrs Thatcher’s government and the eventual neutering of the Trade Union movement there. The opposition at Westminster was led by Michael Foot at a time when the Labour party could be truly called ‘Socialist’.

His time at the top was unfruitful, for in 1983 Labour was to lose what would be the second general election in a row. Foot and his Labour colleagues advocated a tax policy that had no support from the voters. There was plainly a need for a change in order that Labour become electable again. Following the 1983 election Foot was to stand down as leader and the process of forming ‘New Labour’ was set in train.

In my pre-teenage years, I had a limited knowledge of the British political scenery but I knew that Foot was simply too old to remain in frontline politics. Over the years I would see him in the media from time to time and, as he grew ever more elderly, he was still of good health. Foot, it was known, had a large collection of books and his intellect also remained sound.

It may be sad to say that his beliefs in Socialism and nuclear disarmament did not chime with the majority of the UK voters. But he should be respected as a statesman who was genuinely sincere unlike other, more recent, Labour leaders. Foot is now history in the same era as Edward Heath, Roy Jenkins and James Callaghan. To live to 96 is exceptional and he must have achieved plenty in his life, despite his political weakness. Foot will have a special place in my memory as a thoroughly decent sort of leader.