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| Welsh tributes for Michael Foot | Welsh tributes for Michael Foot |
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| The former Ebbw Vale MP and Labour Party leader Michael Foot has died, aged 96. | The former Ebbw Vale MP and Labour Party leader Michael Foot has died, aged 96. |
| He was described as "a real giant" by First Minister and leader of Labour in Wales Carwyn Jones and "hugely loved" by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan. | He was described as "a real giant" by First Minister and leader of Labour in Wales Carwyn Jones and "hugely loved" by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan. |
| His passing was described as "a loss to the political culture of Wales" by Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones. | His passing was described as "a loss to the political culture of Wales" by Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones. |
| Mr Foot, who succeeded Nye Bevan in 1960 in the Ebbw Vale constituency, died at his home in Hampstead, London. | Mr Foot, who succeeded Nye Bevan in 1960 in the Ebbw Vale constituency, died at his home in Hampstead, London. |
| He was elected Labour leader in 1980, succeeding Cardiff MP Jim Callaghan, but he stood down after losing the 1983 election to Margaret Thatcher. | He was elected Labour leader in 1980, succeeding Cardiff MP Jim Callaghan, but he stood down after losing the 1983 election to Margaret Thatcher. |
| Mr Foot, a prolific writer who wrote a biography on Bevan handed over leadership of Labour to Neil Kinnock. | Mr Foot, a prolific writer who wrote a biography on Bevan handed over leadership of Labour to Neil Kinnock. |
| Mr Foot was first elected to Parliament in 1945 and was an MP for 47 years. | Mr Foot was first elected to Parliament in 1945 and was an MP for 47 years. |
| He may have been born in Plymouth but he was a giant of Welsh politics. | He may have been born in Plymouth but he was a giant of Welsh politics. |
| He succeeded his friend and inspiration, Aneurin Bevan, as MP for Ebbw Vale in 1960, and represented the seat for 32 years. | He succeeded his friend and inspiration, Aneurin Bevan, as MP for Ebbw Vale in 1960, and represented the seat for 32 years. |
| One of the great political orators, he nevertheless led Labour to its worst defeat in 50 years at the 1983 election. | One of the great political orators, he nevertheless led Labour to its worst defeat in 50 years at the 1983 election. |
| But his rebellious spirit, his passion and loyalty endeared him to many in Wales. | But his rebellious spirit, his passion and loyalty endeared him to many in Wales. |
| It's very sad news and marks the passing of someone who was a real giant both within the Labour party and in Britain as a whole.l First Minister Carwyn Jones | |
| He was the Labour leader who presided over a disastrous defeat for the party at the 1983 general election. | He was the Labour leader who presided over a disastrous defeat for the party at the 1983 general election. |
| The left-wing manifesto he put to the public advocated higher personal taxation, more government intervention in industry and unilateral nuclear disarmament. | The left-wing manifesto he put to the public advocated higher personal taxation, more government intervention in industry and unilateral nuclear disarmament. |
| It was famously dubbed "the longest suicide note in history" by Labour MP Gerald Kaufman. | It was famously dubbed "the longest suicide note in history" by Labour MP Gerald Kaufman. |
| Foot had earlier had to deal with splits in his party, as the so-called 'Gang of Four' left to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP). | Foot had earlier had to deal with splits in his party, as the so-called 'Gang of Four' left to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP). |
| The son of a solicitor and Liberal MP, Michael Foot had been President of the Oxford Union and editor of Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard before he entered parliament as MP for Plymouth in Labour's 1945 landslide. | The son of a solicitor and Liberal MP, Michael Foot had been President of the Oxford Union and editor of Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard before he entered parliament as MP for Plymouth in Labour's 1945 landslide. |
| His first attempt to get into the Commons had been at a Welsh seat, Monmouth, at the 1935 general election. | His first attempt to get into the Commons had been at a Welsh seat, Monmouth, at the 1935 general election. |
| As an MP he pressed for a more radical agenda, especially in defence policy, and was a founder of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. | As an MP he pressed for a more radical agenda, especially in defence policy, and was a founder of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. |
| He was NHS founder Bevan's most prominent ally on the left of the Labour Party until they fell out when Bevan renounced unilateral disarmament at the 1957 Labour conference. | He was NHS founder Bevan's most prominent ally on the left of the Labour Party until they fell out when Bevan renounced unilateral disarmament at the 1957 Labour conference. |
| His passing is a loss to the political culture of Wales Leader of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM | His passing is a loss to the political culture of Wales Leader of Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM |
| Their friendship survived, and Foot was eventually to write Bevan's biography. | Their friendship survived, and Foot was eventually to write Bevan's biography. |
| Foot's opposition to defence spending led to the whip being withdrawn from him in 1961 and he was outside the Labour fold for two years. | Foot's opposition to defence spending led to the whip being withdrawn from him in 1961 and he was outside the Labour fold for two years. |
| Although the whip was restored he refused to serve in Harold Wilson's first two administrations, as he opposed Labour's policies on Vietnam, pay restraint and the Common Market. | Although the whip was restored he refused to serve in Harold Wilson's first two administrations, as he opposed Labour's policies on Vietnam, pay restraint and the Common Market. |
| After Labour's general election defeat of 1970 Foot agreed to become a frontbencher. | After Labour's general election defeat of 1970 Foot agreed to become a frontbencher. |
| He became Harold Wilson's Secretary of State for Employment in 1974, in which role he famously faced down anger in Ebbw Vale over steel job losses. | He became Harold Wilson's Secretary of State for Employment in 1974, in which role he famously faced down anger in Ebbw Vale over steel job losses. |
| He first stood for the leadership when Wilson resigned in 1976, losing to James Callaghan. | He first stood for the leadership when Wilson resigned in 1976, losing to James Callaghan. |
| As deputy leader of Callaghan's government Foot was in charge of the first devolution proposals for Wales. | As deputy leader of Callaghan's government Foot was in charge of the first devolution proposals for Wales. |
| He spoke late in life of his sadness when the Welsh public gave his government what he called a "bloody nose" by voting down those proposals on the 1st March 1979. | He spoke late in life of his sadness when the Welsh public gave his government what he called a "bloody nose" by voting down those proposals on the 1st March 1979. |
| But he said: "It never changed my views of devolution in that Welsh people, and those in other parts of the UK, should be able to determine locally with their votes on how they are governed on many issues." | But he said: "It never changed my views of devolution in that Welsh people, and those in other parts of the UK, should be able to determine locally with their votes on how they are governed on many issues." |
| Tributes | Tributes |
| Following the announcement of his death, tributes were paid to Michael Foot. | Following the announcement of his death, tributes were paid to Michael Foot. |
| Welsh Labour leader and First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "It's very sad news obviously and marks the passing of someone who was a real giant both within the Labour party and in Britain as a whole. | Welsh Labour leader and First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "It's very sad news obviously and marks the passing of someone who was a real giant both within the Labour party and in Britain as a whole. |
| "Michael Foot held many of the major offices in cabinet and, of course, he was a Welsh MP representing Ebbw Vale from the by-election that was held after Aneurin Bevan died in 1960 and, of course, Blaenau Gwent until he retired - so his loss will be very much felt." | "Michael Foot held many of the major offices in cabinet and, of course, he was a Welsh MP representing Ebbw Vale from the by-election that was held after Aneurin Bevan died in 1960 and, of course, Blaenau Gwent until he retired - so his loss will be very much felt." |
| Plaid Cymru's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM said: "Michael Foot was a man of principle and a great Parliamentarian who commanded respect across the political divide. | Plaid Cymru's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM said: "Michael Foot was a man of principle and a great Parliamentarian who commanded respect across the political divide. |
| "It was my privilege and pleasure to have known him and to have served in Westminster at the same time as him where I learnt much from his wealth of knowledge and commitment to social justice. | "It was my privilege and pleasure to have known him and to have served in Westminster at the same time as him where I learnt much from his wealth of knowledge and commitment to social justice. |
| "Michael Foot was also a great devolutionist and I know that he was delighted when the people of Wales said 'yes' to the creation of a National Assembly in 1997 despite wanting a more powerful parliament for Wales. | "Michael Foot was also a great devolutionist and I know that he was delighted when the people of Wales said 'yes' to the creation of a National Assembly in 1997 despite wanting a more powerful parliament for Wales. |
| "His passing is a loss to the political culture of Wales." | "His passing is a loss to the political culture of Wales." |
| Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said: "Michael was perhaps Wales' most brilliant adopted son. | Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said: "Michael was perhaps Wales' most brilliant adopted son. |
| Foot was described as the oustanding Parliamentarian of our time | Foot was described as the oustanding Parliamentarian of our time |
| "A good friend, he gave me much personal support over 40 years, from the Anti-apartheid Movement to our work together on the Tribune newspaper. | "A good friend, he gave me much personal support over 40 years, from the Anti-apartheid Movement to our work together on the Tribune newspaper. |
| "He will be sorely missed. Never again will we see such soaring oratory, socialist passion and wit. Wales and Welsh Labour are in mourning." | "He will be sorely missed. Never again will we see such soaring oratory, socialist passion and wit. Wales and Welsh Labour are in mourning." |
| Torfaen MP Paul Murphy, a former Welsh and Northern Ireland Secretary, said Michael Foot was one of the greatest socialists of all time. | Torfaen MP Paul Murphy, a former Welsh and Northern Ireland Secretary, said Michael Foot was one of the greatest socialists of all time. |
| "He had a real understanding of the people of the Welsh valleys and was proud to be an adopted Welshman," he said. | "He had a real understanding of the people of the Welsh valleys and was proud to be an adopted Welshman," he said. |
| "He led the party through especially difficult times, and I have no doubt that the party would have fractured had it not been for his leadership. | "He led the party through especially difficult times, and I have no doubt that the party would have fractured had it not been for his leadership. |
| "He was a distinguished Leader of the House and Secretary of State for Employment and many consider him one of the finest parliamentary orators of the 20th Century." | "He was a distinguished Leader of the House and Secretary of State for Employment and many consider him one of the finest parliamentary orators of the 20th Century." |
| Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan said Mr Foot was a "unique character of the British parliament and political system" who was a "stunningly good parliamentary performer". | Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan said Mr Foot was a "unique character of the British parliament and political system" who was a "stunningly good parliamentary performer". |
| He said: "He was hugely loved in Wales and hugely loved throughout Britain and even loved by his opponents as well." | He said: "He was hugely loved in Wales and hugely loved throughout Britain and even loved by his opponents as well." |
| Tell us your memories and tributes of Michael Foot? | Tell us your memories and tributes of Michael Foot? |
| Send us your comments. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | Send us your comments. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| I attended a "right to work" march through Liverpool in the late 70`s during the Thatcher regime, i will never forget talking to Michael Foot that day and being inspired by his words and his commitment to socialism, i marched head high that day, and every day since, thank you Michael R.I.P.Bill McCaffrey, Manchester, England | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |