As it comes in: Michael Foot tributes and reaction

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATE: Tribune, which Foot edited, has written:

“To chronicle the life of Michael Foot, who died on Wednesday aged 96, is to embrace the canvas of 20th century British radicalism. The great cavalcade of his life was the essence of that word “radical”: tempestuous, full of a courageous integrity, which sometimes may have seemed a touch eccentric; unyielding in its moral code and, even in old age, astonishingly vigorous in its execution…”

Neil Kinnock said:

“He was a wonderful leader. It was not a job that he sought…he knew that he was letting himself into purgatory. But if he hadn’t done it, I don’t think Labour would have survived as a reckonable political force.”

The news broke during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions that Labour’s former leader Michael Foot had died, aged 96.

Gordon Brown, who was away from Parliament welcoming South African president Jacob Zuma, called him:

“A man of deep principle and passionate idealism and one of the most eloquent speakers Britain has ever heard. He was an indomitable figure who always stood up for his beliefs and whether people agreed with him or not, they admired his character and his steadfastness. The respect he earned over a long life of service means that across our country today people, no matter their political views, will mourn the passing of a great and compassionate man.”

Labour Party General Secretary Ray Collins paid tribute with this statement:

“Michael Foot’s passing is very sad news for the Labour Party and the wider movement. As leader of our party, a Labour minister, a writer and a man he was a tireless campaigner for social justice, whose intelligence, charm and courage will be remembered for years to come.

As Michael Foot himself said, government by consent is the most sacred cause of all. As a young man I was fortunate to see at first hand Michael’s own skill in government, when as Secretary of State for Employment, with Jack Jones of the T&G, he forged the Health and Safety at Work Act which protected millions of working people from injury and illness.

It is a mark of Michael Foot’s quality as a man and the scale of his contribution to public life over almost seven decades that it is hard to summarise in a single sentence. He was possibly one of the few writers who could. As well as pivotal biographies, Labour Party members will remember the clarity and passion of his writing against the appeasement of the 1930s, nuclear weapons, or Apartheid and in support of social justice.

Michael Foot will be missed by many but most of all by those who knew him best, his family and friends, and my thoughts and condolences are with them today.”

David Blunkett called Foot “the greatest parliamentarian of his generation”, adding:

“In the 47 years that I have been a member of the Labour Party, I have rarely come across anyone as gracious, thoughtful and intellectually sharp as Michael Foot”.

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone described him as “the nicest person I ever met at a senior level in politics”. Livingstone later remarked:

“Michael Foot was consistent in his politics and principles throughout his political life from the 1930s until his sad death today. He was right on the majority of issues when the political establishment were wrong as his staunch anti-fascism and his dedication to the abolition of nuclear weapons demonstrated.

Michael was a founder member of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the 1950s and continued to be a dedicated and vocal member until this very day.

He recently said in an interview ‘The most important question facing the human race is the one CND raised on that first march – why are we spending a fortune developing and storing weapons which will destroy the world? We haven’t made as much progress as we should have done, but the message is clearer now than ever before. The world should listen.’

During my time as Mayor he regularly attended the annual Peace Party we hosted with CND and Stop the War.

With the death of Michael Foot the movement has lost a true socialist, one of our foremost peace campaigners and one of the kindest of politicians. My thoughts and condolences are with his family.”

Many figures have paid tribute via Twitter.

David Miliband (@DMiliband) said that he had “led a remarkable life. I remember meeting him on the Tube in the 80s; for a famous speaker he really listened”, also noting: “Ironic to hear news of Michael Foot’s death while welcoming south african president. He hated apartheid with a vengeance”.

Tom Watson (@tom_watson) called him “one of the greatest parliamentians of the 20th century” and John Prescott (@JohnPrescott) a “great man” who was “the heart of our movement”.

Lord Steel, who was the leader of the Liberal/SDP pact at the time Foot was leader, said:

“He was without question the master, spell-binding orator in the House of Commons in my day. When his name came up on the ticker-tape, people would come to hear him. He had this capacity for immense passion laced with humour.”

More tributes:

Alastair Campbell: Michael Foot… above all else a lovely man

Sunder Katwala: “Foot was the keeper of the cherished Bevanite flame and proud of his continued role as the patron saint of the Tribune left.”

Mehdi Hadan: “Some of his much-mocked policies remain relevant even in the 21st century.”

Obituaries

The Guardian

The Times

The Independent