Useful

**Charm_City** · 03-03-2010, 14:12

And I seem to remember him being very 'sound' on the Falklands in 1982.

C_C

**Gundulph** · 03-03-2010, 14:13

As a Plymouth Argyle supporter, (I know! I know! but someone has to support them and that person is me :D ) I actually liked Michael Foot, a fellow Argyle fan, I never knew he was so disliked by many around the country but he certainly came across as a decent person in the South West.

**Ancient_Mariner** · 03-03-2010, 14:18

Originally Posted by Bugsy

What a shame. Still, I suppose it had to happen at some time, especially considering his age. The passing of a great man, as was the sad death of his currant-bun Paul some time ago. I had the pleasure of meeting both of them on quite a few occasions.

MsG

How did you manage that? Were you the KGB bureau chief in London in the early 80s?

**wedge35** · 03-03-2010, 14:22

Yes - he was such a commie, squaddie-hater that as a young man he was one of the writers instrumental in turning public opinion against appeasement and towards re-armament and the need to confront Nazi Germany. He was also active in keeping the non-Communist left firmly onside during the Hitler-Stalin pact and opposed the pacifist Peace Pledge Union when it was quite a popular movement amongst the general public. What a leftie w@nker, eh?

**mnairb** · 03-03-2010, 14:24

'I was always ashamed that this commie cnut had a Welsh constituency' - so has the obnoxious Kenyan/South African 'Welshman' Peter Hain.

One thing about Foot, though, I've seen some footage (sorry) of him defending press freedom in the war, and, in his day, he was a splendid and forceful orator.

**RP578** · 03-03-2010, 14:27

Originally Posted by Gundulph

As a Plymouth Argyle supporter, (I know! I know! but someone has to support them and that person is me :D ) I actually liked Michael Foot, a fellow Argyle fan, I never knew he was so disliked by many around the country but he certainly came across as a decent person in the South West.

I think he had the unfortunate trait of looking and speaking a bit like a mad professor and in an increasingly televised political scene he was an easy target for vilification from all ends of the political spectrum.

He was a decent enough bloke and really didn't deserve that treatment and let's be honest, there was enough of the ball on show without having to resort to playing the man instead. But politics is a harsh business and he probably wouldn't have even made the cut today.

**Pete_the_writer** · 03-03-2010, 14:38

The poor old chap never lived down turning up to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday (1982?) while wearing a donkey jacket (though see the Wiki article).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Foot

**Cuddles** · 03-03-2010, 15:04

That's interesting dear...is the marmalade still in the shed?

**Drlligaf** · 03-03-2010, 15:09

Originally Posted by Biped

Not a bad day so far. The sun is out too!

Same here, except the sun seems to be a shade brighter now. :D

**schweik** · 03-03-2010, 16:18

He was one of a dying breed: the principled politician. The left wing seems to have had most of them in recent decades. He knew what he believed in and was willing to try to advocate those beliefs to the electorate. As opposed to modern politicians of all parties who want to know what you believe in so that they can tell you they believe in that, too.

He was honest, intelligent, witty and a tremendously good speaker.

And I say this as someone who has never voted Labour in my life, and don't anticipate that I ever will.