He was the leader of the British Labour Party 1980-1983. As the leader he took the party in a more left-wing direction. Labour's defeat at the 1983 general election was their worst performance since 1918, with the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher winning a 144 seat majority. Foot's manifesto was dubbed "the longest suicide note in history" by Gerald Kaufman.
[1977, following street-violence between the Socialist Workers Party and the National Front] The most ineffective way of fighting the fascists is to behave like them.
