Michael Foot RIP

[bill]

An of an era. A man of peace, gentleness & culture. A true socialist hero.

[Jim]

Some pictures of the great man here. One shows him with Eric Heffer, giants compared to the PR and focus group obessed pygmies of today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8547461.stm

[johnfricker]

Michael Foot was chosen as its Leader by a myopic Labour Party in self-destruct mode which had betrayed the workers by failing to put political idealism aside to concentrate on defeating the Tories and their attacks on the rights of working people. He was never going to be elected Prime Minister on a socialist agenda in 1980s Britain, even if he hadn't been an easy target for the right wing tabloids for the cerebrally challenged. Sadly, he will be remembered by many as the party leader who wore a donkey jacket (it wasn't) at the Cenotaph and who wrote the 'longest political suicide note in history'. It's a pity that Labour didn't heal its rifts so that Foot could work with the likes of Tony Benn, Denis Healey, Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams et al to resurrect the party. His contribution would have been immense.

[thewelshman]

I met Michael at Ruskin College in 1985 when he came to open Jennie Lee's archive there. A natural wit, dreamer, socialist and great thinker to boot. Would never get on a centrally chosen constituency list nowadays. that's how sickeningly far to the right the once great party has gone..

[johnfricker]

A minute's applause for Michael Foot at Plymouth Argyle, the football club he supported for 88 years (that's dedication and optimism for you):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8553580.stm