Monday, 21 July 2025
Michael Foot at the Trade Club
Michael Foot (1913–2010) was leader of the Labour Party from 1980 to 1983 and received a rousing reception from a packed Hebden Bridge Trades Club in the runup to the June 1983 General Election. A formidable orator and committed socialist, he was known for his intellect, principled politics, and lifelong advocacy for social justice, nuclear disarmament, and workers' rights. He was a long-time MP, having previously served in Harold Wilson's Cabinet.
The HebWeb has received some video foootage of the event and has put this on YouTube. While the footage, jumps at various points mssing sections out, and is generally not of the standard we have come to expect today, it gives an excellent snapshot of the radical politics of 1983 Hebden Bridge. The local candidate for Labour was Ann Holmes and she lost to Donald Thompson, Conservative.
Click here to see the footage on YouTube.
Following the publication of the YouTube footage, the HebWeb has now been sent the report from the HB Times about the MichaelFoot's visit.
Michael puts his best foot forward
LABOUR leader, Michael Foot's visit to the Upper Calder Valley last weekend was hailed by party workers as a "resounding success." Labour agent Mr Andrew Kilburn, said that Mr Foot had been "very well received," both by shoppers in Todmorden and his own campaign workers in Hebden Bridge. He arrived at Todmorden Market place at 11 am, and spoke to a large crowd of shoppers. "That meeting went very well," said Mr Kilburn.
On arrival at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, the Labour party's local base, Mr Foot was shown around the newly renovated building. "He looked remarkably well," said Mr Kilburn, "and he spoke very well and very eloquently." Mr Foot told his campaign workers that Labour was the only party capable ot preserving the National Health Service so that it could help anyone in need, regardless of their financial circumstances.
On defence policy, he said that the Conservatives wanted to build higher the stock pile of nuclear weapons which was already enough to destroy the world several times over. Labour intended to begin with other nations the urgent job of dismantling this stockpile. Commending the Calder Valley's Labour candidate Ann Holmes, he said that there were many reasons why the Calder Valley should elect her, not least the need for Parliament to have many more women members. Also speaking at the meeting was the actor Hugh Manning, who plays the rector in "Emmerdale Farm." He spoke in support of Mr Foot and Ann Holmes.