[g.johnson]

96. Click.

A good egg if poor politician.

[GavinJones]

As difficult to imagine him leading todays labour party as to imagine Sir Ted leading the current tories.
I can still hear people (well students) telling me that the reason labour lost (1983....) was that they were not longest suicide note etc left-wing enough.

[Rail Paul]

You Brits have so many interesting politicians, with magnificent fights over very basic political philosophies.

I can't imagine college students here have ever heard of the 1960 statement to the Houston Ministerial Council, much less given any thought to how it affects current government and organized religion interfaces. That British students care and debate a 1980s (ETA) manifesto is amazing.

[Slapsie Maxie]

Unfortunately, the days of interesting politicians have gone in the UK

But, at least it gives us scope for bits of TV genius like this

Slapsie

[Wilfrid]

It will be hard to tell from clips and recordings, and may even be unbelievable, but Foot was also a remarkable orator in front of large crowds - in the old-fashioned, barn-storming style. A good man, as remarked above, and also something of an intellectual - this was once possible for politicians too.

Doubtless all memorials will recall his failed leadership of the Labour Party, but it's worth remembering that, rather than it being a position he coveted, it was a task he assumed when the obvious successor to Callaghan - Denis Healey - was simply unable to command sufficient support within the party (and a very close thing that was, as I recall).