Michael Foot was born in Plymouth on 23rd July 1913. His father was Isaac Foot who was a solicitor and founder of the Plymouth law firm, Foot and Bowden. Foot became the first Labour MP for Devonport? in 1945. He held the seat until his suprise defeat by [Dame Joan Vickers]?. It has been suggested that Foot's pacifist stance led many of the dockyard workers who made up a significant percentage of his constituency to abandon him.
Following the Labour Party's General Election defeat by Margaret Thatcher Foot was elected leader, defeating the more moderate [Dennis Healey]?. Hampered by his appearance (he was heavily criticised for appearing at an Armistice ceremony in a donkey jacket) he struggled for political popularity. The 1983 Labour manifesto, strongly socialist in tone, advocated unilateral nuclear disarmament, high taxation and public ownership of industry and proved unpopular with the electorate, which was beginning its love affair with Thatcherism?. A senior Labour politician later described it as "the longest suicide note in history."
After losing to a Conservative landslide the 1983 election he was subsequently replaced by Neil Kinnock.
He is a director of Plymouth Argyle F.C. and still works as a journalist interested in humanitarian issues, especially concerning the Baltic? states.
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