Paul Foot leaves Mirror

Wednesday, June 2, 1993 - 10:00

Paul Foot leaves Mirror

By Frank Noakes

LONDON — Respected journalist and author Paul Foot has quit the Daily Mirror after writing a weekly page for 13 years.

Foot, a member of the British Socialist Workers Party since 1962, had a very public falling out with the new management regime. The Mirror has sacked many staff members and crushed the union in its attempt to depoliticise the paper.

Formerly owned by the late corrupt tycoon Robert Maxwell, the Mirror has traditionally supported the Labour Party.

Editor David Banks, sent Foot home on sick leave and later said that he thought Foot should seek professional help to overcome his sense of isolation.

Foot responded: "Dr Banks of the Stalin School of Psychiatry says: 'Anybody who disagrees with me must be mad.'" Foot's avowedly socialist page was very popular. Consistently campaigning for justice, it succeeded in righting many wrongs over the years.

From GLW issue 102