Leighton Park School’s Head Boy, Theo Masters-Waage and Head Girl, Alex Cheng, were delighted to welcome Lord Neil Kinnock to the school, to help commemorate the life and contribution to British Politics of Michael Foot, the former Labour Leader, and student of Leighton Park School from 1927-1931.
Lord Kinnock, who succeeded Michael Foot as Labour Party leader in 1983, delivered an insightful, entertaining and at times, poignant talk, on Michael Foot’s contribution to British politics, and explained why, in his opinion, Michael Foot will be remembered as one of the great British Parliamentarians.
Lord Kinnock said “If there is anything I can do to burnish the memory of Michael Foot, the unsurpassed Parliamentarian, then I will. Foot had the skill to be light with words that were heavy with meaning and his propensity to forgive was gigantic, a lesser man may have crumbled under the pressures he faced.”
Following the talk, the audience of students from Leighton Park, Highdown School, The Abbey School, Reading Blue Coat, and Cherwell School, seized the opportunity to offer questions from the floor about Lord Kinnock’s own political career and experiences. Candid and detailed in his responses Lord Kinnock provided the students a real insight into modern day politics.
After a robust question and answer session, Will Earle-Aherne, Deputy Head Boy thanked Lord Kinnock for sharing his insights into the life of Michael Foot. “You have reminded us of the importance there is in the presence of a challenging Opposition in British Politics, and the legacy Michael Foot left behind. He let his life speak, something we aspire to do at Leighton Park School”.
Howard Shaw, Head of Politics at Leighton Park and the organiser of the event commented that “We were delighted that such a well known and respected figure as Lord Kinnock accepted our invitation. The students, most of whom are studying Politics and History, felt that Lord Kinnock’s speech gave them a fascinating insight into his own, and Michael Foot’s contribution to the development of the modern Labour Party. They also thoroughly enjoyed being able to question Lord Kinnock, and get his perspective on issues and the benefit of his vast experience.”
The students then went on to participate in a debate on “The EU has become too powerful, and its power ought to be diminished ", hosted by Derek Scott, former economic adviser to Tony Blair, and Petros Fassoulas, of the pro-European think tank, The European Movement.
Leighton Park Head Alex McGrath summed the event up by saying “Neil Kinnock is a statesman of real stature, who was involved in domestic politics throughout an extraordinary period of our recent History as the country’s longest serving opposition leader, and who has forwarded the nation’s interest through the British Council since. Our students are enormously fortunate to have been able to meet a man who has so much to offer them, who knew Michael Foot personally, and who spoke so knowledgeably about the legacy of one of Leighton Park’s most passionate political alumni. It is a great pleasure to have hosted Lord Kinnock: a learning experience from which we shall all benefit.”