Former Labour leader Michael Foot dies, aged 96

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-aged-96.html

Former Labour leader Michael Foot has died at the age of 96.

A brilliant Left-wing campaigner, unrivalled in his day as a parliamentarian, it was Foot who in 1983 led his beloved Labour party to its worst electoral humiliation. While his manifesto that year was famously later described as 'the longest suicide note in history', he will also fondly be remembered for his skills as an orator.

The veteran politician had been ill for some time and receiving 24-hour care. He died early this morning at his home in Hampstead, North London. Gordon Brown led tributes to the politician today, describing him as 'a man of deep principle and passionate idealism and one of the most eloquent speakers Britain has ever heard'. 'He was an indomitable figure who always stood up for his beliefs and whether people agreed with him or not they admired his character and his steadfastness,' the Prime Minister said. 'The respect he earned over a long life of service means that, across our country today, people, no matter their political views, will mourn the passing of a great and compassionate man.'

Despite the crushing defeat he suffered at the hands of Margaret Thatcher, he will be remembered at Westminster with great affection as one of the kindest, most genuine and popular politicians. Foot, although a gentle and courteous individual, always attracted controversy, whether as Left-wing Tribune columnist in the 1930s, part-author of the most famous attack on Britain's wartime rulers, Guilty Men, in the 1940s, or a ban-the-bomb Aldermaston peace marcher in the 1950s. But controversy of a less welcome kind dogged his three unhappy years as Labour leader.

Well while I am so glad he never got into power because his socialist policy and idealogy was totally awful, wrong and I disagree with them on all counts;- but from what I have gathered when been reading on him both now and in the past; unlike the leaders today he actually genuinely believed in his policies and was a genuine man which is something very hard to come by in politics nowadays and for that I respect him.

RIP Michael Foot.

[Catzsy]

I agree he was a very hardline left person but one of the greatest orators of modern times and an intellectual heavyweight. RIP

[-:Undertaker:-]

I wouldn't go as far as intellectual, the man wanted us (the west) to disarm when tens of thousands of Soviet missiles were pointing at us.

[Catzsy]

I wouldn't go as far as intellectual, the man wanted us (the west) to disarm when tens of thousands of Soviet missiles were pointing at us.

I wasn't talking about his political views. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Wadham College, Oxford. Foot was the President of the Oxford Union. He was regarded as having a brilliant mind by many of his contemporaries of all political persuasions.