Former Labour leader Michael Foot dies
THE former Labour Party leader and Hampstead resident Michael Foot has died aged 96. Mr Foot was elected Labour leader in 1980, succeeding Jim Callaghan but he stood down after losing the 1983 election to Margaret Thatcher. First elected to Parliament in
THE former Labour Party leader and Hampstead resident Michael Foot has died aged 96.
Mr Foot was elected Labour leader in 1980, succeeding Jim Callaghan but he stood down after losing the 1983 election to Margaret Thatcher.
First elected to Parliament in 1945 in the seat of Plymouth Devonport he was an MP for 47 years. He was also a prolific writer and became the editor of the London Evening Standard at the age of 28.
Before becoming Labour leader, he served in the Callaghan and Harold Wilson governments as Minister for Employment and leader of the House of Commons.
Justice Minister Jack Straw announced Mr Foot's death in the House of Commons today (Wednesday March 3). He paid tribute to Mr Foot's oratory skills comparing one speech he gave in 1980 to a "Mozart concerto".
Commons speaker John Bercow described Mr Foot as a "quite extraordinarily distinguished Parliamentarian".
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For Mr Foot's obituary and tributes see tomorrow's Ham&High (Thursday March 4).
