Tributes to Michael Foot, who has died at his Hampstead home

March 3, 2010

By DAN CARRIER

MICHAEL Foot, the former leader of the Labour Party and journalist who lived in Hampstead, passed away this morning. He was 96.

Michael, who was first elected to Parliament as a Labour MP in the Labour landslide win of 1945, had long been admired for his insightful journalism before he entered the house. He had been identified as one of the authors of Guilty Men, a devastating critique published under the pen name 'Cato' that ripped to shreds  the British political classes behaviour in the 1930s, that allowed Fascism to take deep root in Europe.

He was elected to lead the Labour Party in 1980 and fought the 1983 election against Margaret Thatcher. At the time, the party's manifesto was described as the 'longest suicide note in history' - but the economic philosophy, moral value and core beliefs have provided a beacon for the Left ever since.

Born in Plymouth, the son of Liberal MP Isaac Foot, he studied at Oxford before entering journalism, working at he Evening Standard and then becoming editor of Tribune. He had lived in Pilgrims Lane, Hampstead, for over 40 years where he set up home with his wife, the writer Jill Craigie.

Mr Foot had a close connection and fondness for the New Journal and he was proud that his great-nephew Tom Foot had been appointed its assistant editor. Our literary editor Illtyd Harrington, one of Mr Foot's friends, said: "Michael was the people's orator, sounding the brass trumpet for socialism and radicalism. He had a love of life and generosity of spirit."

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