5. Michael Foot

Michael Foot became Labour Party leader in 1983.

A leading figure from the Bevanite left, during his leadership he contended with divison on both the left of Labour, led by Tony Benn, and the right, from the formation of the SDP.

Under his leadership, Labour adopted many left wing policies, all of which were put into the 1983 manifesto - nicknamed the ‘longest suicide note in history' - and Labour was defeated in the 1983 election. However, Foot is still personally respected by figures from across the Labour spectrum. 

With amazing guests Andrew Roe Crines, Peter Dorey, John Foot, Tom Foot, Ivor Gaber, Mark Wickham Jones, Neil Kinnock, David Kogan, and David Owen - this episode explores Foot’s background, leadership and legacy.

Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:

LinkedIn: Izzy Conn

X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_

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Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.

LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor

X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor

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Artwork by Mouse Terry, Goldsmiths BA Fine Art student.

Music by Rykard From.

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Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.

LINKS

Andrew Roe Crines, Senior Politics Lecturer at Liverpool University, and author of Michael Foot and the Labour Leadership (2011).

https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-4438-3159-8

Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics at Cardiff University, and author of Thatcherism: A Short History (2023)

https://www.agendapub.com/book/detail/a-short-history-of-thatcherism-by-peter-dorey/?k=9781788215503//

John Foot, Michael Foot’s great nephew, and historian at Bristol University

Tom Foot, Michael Foot’s great nephew, and Deputy Editor of the Camden New Journal.

Ivor Gaber, Professor of Political Journalism at the University of Sussex, and co-author of Culture Wars: The Media and the British Left (2019).

https://www.routledge.com/Culture-Wars-The-Media-and-the-British-Left/Curran-Gaber-Petley/p/book/9781138223035?srsltid=AfmBOordtmFTpvTSWt3opcHGiWhANW93KkN0114WhZTs8tMC5uztGFed

Mark Wickham Jones, Professor of Political Science at Bristol University, and author of Economic Strategy and the Labour Party: politics and policy-making, 1970-83 (1996).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Economic-Strategy-Labour-Party-policy-making/dp/0333693728

Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.

David Kogan, Historian, and author of Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party (2018).

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