Michael Foot

Michael Foot
Born	Michael Mackintosh Foot 1913-07-23 Plymouth, Devon, England
Died	2010-03-03 (Age 96) Hampstead, London, England
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford
Relatives	• Isaac Foot • Sir Dingle Foot • The Lord Caradon • The Lord Foot • Paul Foot • Oliver Foot
Spouse	Jill Craigie
Party	Labour
UK/Leader of the Opposition  In office 10 November 1980 - 2 October 1983 Preceded by James Callaghan Succeeded by Neil Kinnock  Leader of the Labour Party In office 10 November 1980 - 2 October 1983 Preceded by James Callaghan Succeeded by Neil Kinnock  Deputy Leader of the Labour Party In office 5 April 1976 - 10 November 1980 Boss James Callaghan, Frank Cluskey  Shadow Leader of the House of Commons  In office 4 May 1979 - 10 November 1980 Preceded by Norman St John-Stevas  Leader of the House of Commons  In office 8 April 1976 - 4 May 1979 Succeeded by Norman St John-Stevas  Lord President of the Council In office 8 April 1976 - 4 May 1979 Succeeded by Christopher Soames  Secretary of State for Employment  In office 5 March 1974 - 8 April 1976 Preceded by William Whitelaw  Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent In office 17 November 1960 - 9 April 1992  Member of Parliament for Plymouth Devonport In office 5 July 1945 - 26 May 1955

Michael Foot (23 July 1913 – 3 March 2010) was a British Labour Party politician who served as Labour Leader from 1980 to 1983. Foot began his career as a journalist on Tribune and the Evening Standard.

Codename 'Boot'

In July 1995, the Sunday Times was forced into a humiliating climb-down at the High Court over its allegations that Michael Foot was considered an "agent of influence" by the KGB.

The 81-year-old former Labour leader had sued the paper and its proprietor Rupert Murdoch over a three-page article last February, which - under the headline "KGB: Michael Foot was our agent" - detailed how the KGB had courted Labour politicians and trade union officials during the Sixties.

The story alleged Mr Foot had operated under the codename "Boot" and that the Soviet intelligence service made cash payments to the left-wing journal Tribune while he was editor.

Under a settlement read out in open court, the paper offered Mr Foot "substantial" damages - which with legal costs are believed to run to at least pounds 100,000 - and an assurance that it had never intended to suggest that he had been a spy.

Mr Foot, who was in court for the brief hearing, said afterwards: "I think the libel laws are very severe on newspapers ... But what the Sunday Times said was so serious - that I was a spy who had served one of the most wicked organisations that has existed this century - I thought it had to be wiped clear."

His solicitor David Price said that Times Newspapers' unsuccessful attempt to prevent Mr Murdoch from appearing in court had prompted the company's decision to reach a settlement. Mr Foot added: "If he [Mr Murdoch] owns newspapers which can make accusations of this nature, he should appear in court when they are raised."