Ministers pays tribute to Michael Foot

4 Mar 2010 12:46 PM

Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain has paid tribute to former Labour leader and Ebbw Vale MP Michael Foot, who has died at the age of 96.  

Mr Hain said: ”Michael was perhaps Wales’ most brilliant adopted son. A good friend, he gave me much personal support over 40 years, from the Anti-apartheid Movement to our work together on the Tribune newspaper. He will be sorely missed. Never again will we see such soaring oratory, socialist passion and wit. Wales and Welsh Labour are in mourning.”

Wales Office Minister Wayne David also paid tribute to Michael Foot.

Mr David said:  “Michael Foot was one of the most significant politicians of our time. He was a great orator, a towering intellectual, a wonderful writer and a man of principle and integrity. As a young man I well remember the encouragement I received from him and the inspiration I gained from reading his two volume biography of Aneurin Bevan. The Labour movement has today lost one of its great figures”.