In praise of Michael Foot

Here's an example of Brown getting something right:

Prime Minister and Labour leader Gordon Brown led the tributes, describing Mr Foot as a "man of deep principle and passionate idealism".

See, I'd agree with that. Foot was a man of deep principle and passionate idealism.

Of course, what Foot believed in was abject nonsense. It was the sort of cliched left-wing bilge that should be abandoned once someone moves beyond the naive surroundings of student union politics. His ideas were soundly - and rightly - rejected by the British people in 1983.

But at least Foot stood for something. Anyone who has studied Foot knows why he wanted to be Prime Minister, and knows that it was for ideological reasons, rather than ego or personal gain. In fact, in some respects, British politics in 1983 represents something of a golden age, in that the Labour and Conservative parties were headed by ideologues passionate about a particular vision of the future for Britain. Compare that to now, when the leaders of the party have no political ambition beyond the extension and perpetuation of their own political power. When Foot lost, he could at least say that it was a honourable defeat. He fought for what he believed in and failed. Which will be a damn sight better than whoever loses this coming election will be able to claim - mainly that they fought to win political power for themselves, and failed to achieve even that.

Foot came from a different era of British politics - when it was more about ideological debate than a popularity contest between pointless party leaders. So rest in peace, Michael - but let's hope the idea of genuine conviction politicians isn't also dead and gone forever.