Michael Foot Dies

[hibsbollah]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm)

A principled man, and without doubt the most jakey-looking politician in history.

[poolman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm)

A principled man, and without doubt the most jakey-looking politician in history.

Very true :agree:

But as you say not the most photogenic would-be Prime Minister but a man with very strong principles and would not budge in defence of them

[khib70]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm)

A principled man, and without doubt the most jakey-looking politician in history.
Have to agree. Fiercely intelligent and with a level of integrity virtually unknown in politics today. RIP.

[Jonnyboy]

A strange bod but very committed to his cause

RIP

[heretoday]

It was the wrong time for Footy unfortunately. Mrs T was far more media-savvy than he.

[heidtheba]

Didn't like the politics he had that I knew off (I was a wee laddie then) but, even though I'd rather cut my arm off than vote Brown/Blair Labour, I do have waaay more respect for left wing leaders who truly believe in their cause and are...um....left wing.

[Leicester Fan]

Was a terrible leader of the Labour party and would have made a worst P.M. but he was an honest, conviction politician and there aren't too many of those around today.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Daft as a brush, very clever man though.

[wpj]

A Plymouth Argyle fanatic, seldom missed a match (mebi went to the cinema for a few games at one stage though)

[Betty Boop]

A life long campaigner for social justice, one of the founders of the CND movement, and creator of ACAS. RIP Michael Foot, a true socialist.

[Dashing Bob S]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8547228.stm)

A principled man, and without doubt the most jakey-looking politician in history.

Expect to hear from George Foulkes lawyers any day now.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Expect to hear from George Foulkes lawyers any day now.

:faf: Without a doubt.

Michael Foot, not loved by many but a true socialist as mentioned above. Not many politicians with the courage of their convictions that he had. RIP.

[Phil D. Rolls]

It was the wrong time for Footy unfortunately. Mrs T was far more media-savvy than he.

Have you never read the 1983 Labour Manifesto? They were so mental at that time they wanted to Nationalise the banks!!!! I mean what a crazy idea, taking control of the banks and running them on ethical principles.
:bitchy: barking.

[lucky]

He was giant amongst men. His strong socialist polices would have seen a far more fairer society today than the won created by Thatcher and new labour.

[ballengeich]

A Plymouth Argyle fanatic, seldom missed a match (mebi went to the cinema for a few games at one stage though)

He holds the record as the oldest man registered as a league footballer. It was Argyle's 90th birthday present to him.

He was a man of principle. There are too few in parliament.

[Bishop Hibee]

Have you never read the 1983 Labour Manifesto? They were so mental at that time they wanted to Nationalise the banks!!!! I mean what a crazy idea, taking control of the banks and running them on ethical principles.
:bitchy: barking. :tee hee:

Unfairly demonized by the right wing press. A famous example of this was when he wore a "donkey jacket" to the cenotaph. The Murdoch led press went daft and destroyed his public image. The jacket turned out to be an expensive overcoat which the Queen Mum actually complimented him on wearing!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7361078/Michael-Foot-and-the-donkey-jacket-that-wasnt.html

I agreed with a lot of what he believed e.g. unilateral nuclear disarmament and his republicanism (never excepted any honors).

Unfortunately in this age of style over substance, it's unlikely we'll see an intellectual of any political hue leading a mainstream party in the UK.

RIP.

[ballengeich]

Unfortunately in this age of style over substance, it's unlikely we'll see an intellectual of any political hue leading a mainstream party in the UK.

RIP.

Gordon Brown is an intellectual. His misfortune is that his party has taken directions which means that he's forgotten what he originally wanted power for.

[Disco Dave]

Michael Foot, a true leg-end :agree:

[Wilson]

Daft as a brush

Really?


A Plymouth Argyle fanatic

Oh, that confirms it :agree:

[RyeSloan]

Have you never read the 1983 Labour Manifesto? They were so mental at that time they wanted to Nationalise the banks!!!! I mean what a crazy idea, taking control of the banks and running them on ethical principles.
:bitchy: barking.

About as crazy as his idea to re-nationalise telecoms and impose trade tarrifs to support coal and steel production.....oh wait a minute :wink:

To be fair tho the 1983 manifesto is no where near as bad as is made out and has some quite progressive suggestions on energy conservation, Scottish devolution etc....

[steakbake]

About as crazy as his idea to re-nationalise telecoms and impose trade tarrifs to support coal and steel production.....oh wait a minute :wink:

To be fair tho the 1983 manifesto is no where near as bad as is made out and has some quite progressive suggestions on energy conservation, Scottish devolution etc....

They can be the best ideas in the whole wide world but if you can't get people to vote for them, they're not worth the paper they are printed on.

[Phil D. Rolls]

About as crazy as his idea to re-nationalise telecoms and impose trade tarrifs to support coal and steel production.....oh wait a minute :wink:

To be fair tho the 1983 manifesto is no where near as bad as is made out and has some quite progressive suggestions on energy conservation, Scottish devolution etc....

Coal and steel production?

:confused:

No, you've got me.

[RyeSloan]

Coal and steel production?

:confused:

No, you've got me.


I was (ratherly poorly I must admit) just trying to show that for all the manifesto may have had some good ideas in it (and it's a rather moot point to suggest a nationalised banking industry would have proven to be good) that it had some stinkers in it as well.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I was (ratherly poorly I must admit) just trying to show that for all the manifesto may have had some good ideas in it (and it's a rather moot point to suggest a nationalised banking industry would have proven to be good) that it had some stinkers in it as well.

Sorry, a poor attempt at humour. It's hard to believe that we used to produce coal and steel in this country.

It's just that you made me think about what the Tory answer to the problems of steel and coal production were. I think an attempt to sustain these industries - whilst having a long term plan to run them down, might have saved some of the problems we see today.

Communities like Ballingry, Lochore and Lochgelly (and others throughout the UK) have been left with massive social problems due to their lifeblood being shut off overnight. Maybe if there had a gradual slowing of production, they'd have had the chance to adapt, instead they are left looking like ghost towns - populated by zombies.

[steakbake]

Sorry, a poor attempt at humour. It's hard to believe that we used to produce coal and steel in this country.

It's just that you made me think about what the Tory answer to the problems of steel and coal production were. I think an attempt to sustain these industries - whilst having a long term plan to run them down, might have saved some of the problems we see today.

Communities like Ballingry, Lochore and Lochgelly (and others throughout the UK) have been left with massive social problems due to their lifeblood being shut off overnight. Maybe if there had a gradual slowing of production, they'd have had the chance to adapt, instead they are left looking like ghost towns - populated by zombies.

Thats the issue, I think. The Tories were too quick to cut and run and a gradual wind down probably would have made channelling folks skills into new areas of work more easy. My own suspicion is that behind the coal and steel industry were some very heavyweight unions. So it was almost like a battle over dependency. If the Tory government got the axe out, there would be less union trouble to deal with and they'd save a bob or two by shipping in cheap imports.

That said, though, in the same way the Tories pulled the plug on the life-support coal and steel communities in the 80s across the UK, New Labour are doing exactly the same with the steel plants on Weirside.

We had to come off the coal and steel at some point because it wasn't sustainable in the long run. But that's like saying granny shouldnae get to live till 90 because she's going to die anyway.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Thats the issue, I think. The Tories were too quick to cut and run and a gradual wind down probably would have made channelling folks skills into new areas of work more easy. My own suspicion is that behind the coal and steel industry were some very heavyweight unions. So it was almost like a battle over dependency. If the Tory government got the axe out, there would be less union trouble to deal with and they'd save a bob or two by shipping in cheap imports.

That said, though, in the same way the Tories pulled the plug on the life-support coal and steel communities in the 80s across the UK, New Labour are doing exactly the same with the steel plants on Weirside.

We had to come off the coal and steel at some point because it wasn't sustainable in the long run. But that's like saying granny shouldnae get to live till 90 because she's going to die anyway.

Very well put. It was like doing surgery with a chain saw. A quick fix to their problem, which has left a legacy that could take a century to fix.

[ArabHibee]

Sorry, a poor attempt at humour. It's hard to believe that we used to produce coal and steel in this country.

It's just that you made me think about what the Tory answer to the problems of steel and coal production were. I think an attempt to sustain these industries - whilst having a long term plan to run them down, might have saved some of the problems we see today.

Communities like Ballingry, Lochore and Lochgelly (and others throughout the UK) have been left with massive social problems due to their lifeblood being shut off overnight. Maybe if there had a gradual slowing of production, they'd have had the chance to adapt, instead they are left looking like ghost towns - populated by zombies.

:agree: I know someone from there - and she's a total munter.