REPORT Another aspect of politi- Unless there lesson that President Bush, manifestos are simply snapshots cal thinking could perhaps be for example, seemed unable of moments in history which labelled by the theological term are those to grasp. Parties that were not almost immediately become ‘apologetics’, where you looked based on some sort of ideology obsolescent – unless they are at your faith in terms of oth- amongst were too ephemeral. Parties rooted in a political ideology. ers, and other faiths in terms of us who are based on tribal loyalties, or on So unless there are those your own; Michael believed that charismatic leaders, could be amongst us who are prepared to almost all he had written – for prepared to positively dangerous: ‘all leaders do the thinking and the writ- example, Liberalism and the Left, are bad, and the best leaders are ing, and to do something about or Liberalism and the Right – could do the think- worse’, because they all fall foul it thereafter, the party will be be so categorised. This exercise of their own self-importance. wafted about by every passing helped enable politicians to ing and the Parties based on regions were political breeze. We need the defend the ideas of their party writing, and also problematic, as were those anchor of political thought. in any political arena. What had on religions. But perhaps even often saddened Michael was the to do some- more importantly, parties based Duncan Brack is the Editor of the lack of confidence many Liber- on programmes do not work: Journal of Liberal History. als had displayed in their own thing about beliefs, when trying to discover ‘short-cuts to success’. it thereafter, Michael felt that there was the party will often a lack of intellectual rig- our about what Liberals do. He be wafted cited the general statement of opposition to discrimination about by in the preamble to the Liberal every pass- Democrat constitution, while REVIEws pointing out that clearly we ing political would discriminate against paedophiles; general statements breeze. We Political patriarch needed to be examined with care. Another example was the need the Michael Foot and Alison Highet (eds): Isaac Foot: A mutation of community politics from an ideological exercise into anchor of Westcountry Boy – Apostle of England (London: Politico’s a way of winning elections – and political Publishing, 2006) one of its offshoots, the recruit- ment to the party of people who thought. Reviewed by Robert Ingham liked particular local Liberal campaigns, but had no real attachment to liberalism; they f Isaac Foot is remembered councillor in Plymouth for over tended to drift away after a year at all today, it is as the patri- twenty years and Lord Mayor of or two. The problem was that Iarch of a political family. the city in 1945–46; and Presi- the party tended not to think Four sons made it to Parlia- dent of the Liberal Party in 1947. that its members actually needed ment: Dingle, as first a Liberal Michael Foot and his niece Ali- any real grounding in liberalism, and then a Labour MP and a son Highet have, in this volume, or that it needed to make any Solicitor General in the 1960s; set out to illuminate the life of a special effort to recruit the rela- Michael, as a left-wing fire- remarkable man, long eclipsed tively small number of people brand and Leader of the Labour by the successes of his children. who were instinctive liberals. Party; Hugh (known as Mac) Isaac Foot is not a conven- Michael agreed with much was made a peer after a dis- tional biography, however. of David Howarth’s argu- tinguished diplomatic career; Rather it is a collection of source ments. One conclusion he and John was a long-serving materials – reminiscences, let- had drawn from his work in Liberal peer. In addition, grand- ters, broadcasts, even a paper emerging democracies was that son Paul was a distinguished on Foot’s vast library – spliced elections were not the cause campaigning journalist. But together by the editors to tell the of democracy, but the result Isaac was a significant fig- story of Foot’s life. The result is of it, and unless a democratic ure in his own right. He was highly readable, although there structure already existed, elec- Liberal MP for Bodmin from is perhaps too much detail in one tions by themselves would not 1922–24 and 1929–35 and was or two areas and some frustrat- deliver democracy, and could briefly Minister of Mines in the ing gaps for those interested in often make things worse – a National Government of 1931; a Foot the Liberal politician. 38 Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 REVIEws Foot’s first election campaign defeat. He was narrowly beaten translator of the New Testament was a defeat at Totnes in January in a by-election at St Ives in 1937, into English, are amply covered. 1910 and his last came thirty-five occasioned by Walter Runci- Foot’s marriage was based first years later when he was unsuc- man’s elevation to the peer- and foremost on the religious cessful at Tavistock. Parts IV age. This contest provided an convictions he shared with his and V of the book deal with his opportunity to settle scores with wife, Eva. The highlight of political career. Although ini- Runciman, a former protégé of Isaac Foot is the correspondence tially attracted to Lloyd George, Foot’s, who had stayed loyal to between Isaac and his wife dur- he remained loyal to Asquith the government and had issued ing their courtship. They met after 1916 and bitterly opposed an address to the electors of Bod- on 4 April 1901 at a church out- Lloyd George’s use of the ‘cou- min in 1935 urging them to vote ing in Cambridge and, for Isaac, pon’ to designate supporters for the government candidate. it was love at first sight. By the of the coalition in 1918. Foot Foot campaigned vigorously middle of the month he was opposed couponed candidates on against appeasement, bravely writing to propose marriage. three occasions, losing at Bod- speaking out against the Munich Eva, a remarkable woman who min in 1918 and to Lady Astor at settlement despite the popular deserves greater attention for Plymouth Sutton in 1919 before enthusiasm for Chamberlain’s her contribution to the devel- winning the Bodmin by-elec- foolish claim to have achieved opment of such a significant tion in 1922. The name of Lloyd ‘peace in our time’. During the family, was understandably George was ‘most accursed’ in Second World War he undertook cautious. The letters show how the Foot household at this time a strenuous speaking tour of the Isaac got his woman. They and the two men engaged in a United States, intended to tackle also do more than any biogra- hostile correspondence through isolationist elements head-on, pher could to demonstrate the the newspapers about the and afterwards served as Lord warmth and humour in his per- extent to which Lloyd George Mayor of Plymouth (on the sonality. Isaac Foot emerges as remained true to the principles invitation of the newly-elected an eminently likeable man. of his party. Foot was re-elected Labour council). He remained Foot was also devoted to the for Bodmin in the general elec- active as an elder statesman in the institution of Parliament and, tions of 1922 and 1923, lost in Liberal Party into the 1950s. as a result, to Oliver Cromwell 1924, regained the seat in 1929, The Liberal historian is left and the other parliamentarians retained it in 1931 and lost again wanting more about Foot’s elec- who had stood up to Charles in 1935. In another era, five tion campaigns, his period as a I. He founded the Cromwell election victories would have minister and his career in the guaranteed twenty years or more Liberal Party, particularly dur- service in the House of Com- ing the late 1940s and early 1950s mons rather than a mere eight. when the party was at risk of There is a detailed account of disappearing altogether. Two of his by-election victory in 1922, Foot’s sons left the Liberals for with some wonderful photo- Labour – what did their father graphs, and a well-structured think? Did Isaac support Clem- summary of his parliamentary ent Davies as Liberal Leader? contributions after he resigned What did he make of the party’s as a minister in 1932. He spoke increasing reliance on pacts and on legal aid, Malta, the opening arrangements with the Conserv- of places of entertainment on ative Party during this time? Sundays, gambling, road safety If the details of his politi- and electoral reform. He was a cal career are sketched only Liberal spokesman at the round- in outline, the bases of Foot’s table conferences on India’s Liberalism are deeply etched demand for self-government and throughout the book. Method- earned the sobriquet ‘the Mem- ism was at the centre of Foot’s ber for the Depressed Classes’ political career, indeed at the as a result of his interest in the centre of his life. He was a vig- ‘untouchables’. He was regarded orous and popular lay-preacher, as the leader of the pro-temper- and was installed as Vice-Pres- ance bloc in the Commons and ident of the Methodist Confer- the brewers crowed with delight ence in 1937. at his defeat in 1935. His religious beliefs and the However, Foot’s political special place in his life held career continued despite his by William Tyndale, the first Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 39 REVIEws Association and was its first also collected literature by the Chairman, and played a leading likes of Hardy, Wordsworth role in marking the sites of the and Conrad.