Common Market Debate | Edward Heath | Michael Foot | People and Politics | Part 1

Part 1
Llew Gardner mediates between Labours Michael Foot and The former conservative leader Edward Heath, on the forthcoming referendum an whether the UK should join the common Market.
And also the fiery topic of 'Soverignty'
First shown: 13/05/1975
If you would like to license a clip from this video please email:
[e-mail]
Quote: VT11276

[@neil5568]

Its amazing the standard of debate as compared to the sound bites of today.

[@moorzymoores]

Amen to that.

[@dannywlm63]

True it actually seems like they mostly answer

[@MrGoneTroppo]

Senator, let me be blunt. Is there a labour crisis in this country?

[@jasonuren3479]

And yet Heath still manages to fool people

[@ShahidKhan-ke8fe]

But how many people actually watched these programmes? I seriously doubt that the standard of education in the 70s was so high that the masses understood 'sovereignty' - pretty high brow legal concept.

[@rodmitchell8576]

How much more intelligent this debate is than anything we hear today.

[@17attewell]

Rod Mitchell The media 24 hour news has a lot to answer for.

[@peterebel7899]

Yes, how much intelligence is destroyed in all those decades by poor education and press & media changed to be propaganda instruments.

[@daviddelaney9885]

Absolutely

[@luigicellauro4624]

TODAY THERE ARE TOO MANY FALSE THINGS RELATED TO ANTI-EU PROPAGANDA. THIS IS A CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE. AND FOR ME, A FOREIGNER, IT IS THE ENGLISH I UNDERSTAND BEST.

[@leonblittle226]

How far we have fallen in verbal abilities and quality since those days is absolutely frightening !

[@Ellio1862]

I wish we could watch this type of TV debate between MP’s in 2017.

[@govananglesey5265]

I wonder why it has changed, the style of interaction.

[@govananglesey5265]

fourstarist, maybe they toned it down a bit intentionally

[@garsm2290]

Very good point - regardless of who one agrees with.

[@robhingston]

And 2020

[@peterebel7899]

This kind of TV debate lead to Britain joining. The kind of recent TV and press propaganda lead to Britain leaving. Murdoch and the Tories are neither interested in peoples education nor in a press giving decent information.

[@martydoherty2660]

The two of them are brilliant. Fully informed, intelligent, rational. The TV guy lets them get on with it. Can you imagine this on Channel 4 News or BBC Newsnight today? Interruptions after twenty seconds, hectoring, grandstanding, shouting. Things were a lot worse in this country in the 1970s, but in many ways they were a lot better than they are today.

[@Buttlands]

We were freer and happier in the seventies, I can tell you that. how I remember.

[@SteedHiggins]

I was not a huge fan of Foot's policies, but the man was an intellectual giant. I cannot think of any member of the house at the moment who has the same intellectual rigour in argument as he demonstrates in this programme. Note that as a result, he and Heath speak to one another with respect.

[@iandander2473]

He definitely can kick Jeremy Corbyn's ass. He comes across as a lot more genuine,

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

Hear hear. I'm not a fan of the labor party but Foot was indeed something special.

[@EdWood2006]

Foot knew the ins and outs of every procedure of the HOC; he was a brilliant student of the British Parliament just like Powell.

[@MrTHERIGHTVIEW]

@@EdWood2006 Was Editor of the Daily Mirror during WW11 , he nail the argument thou on the EU .

[@creagmac3017]

@Simon Higgins they were allowed to develop their arguments in full. Now they just criticise the other person and sensationalise

[@121zoso]

Wow, Micheal Foot really did nail it. He was proved right on pretty much everything.

[@tomgibson6801]

honestly the best pm we never had the sense to vote in rip michael

[@slowdivebreeze1]

When being a socialist actually had a meaning.

[@jonathanbuss7538]

Michael Foot will not rest in peace because he turned his back on his religious upbringing and rejected the only way to lasting peace the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[@tomgibson6801]

ehhhh?

[@commanderspock531]

Foot was right, and I am no fan of Labour or the Tories, but on this issue he was right. He also was a man of integrity, though I disagree mostly with his other politics and a great orator.

[@jerrybaird2059]

As an American, I stand in awe of the high level of debate shown here. Intense but polite, and above all, fully armed with facts, and trained in debate. Compare the pompous speechifying of our Congressmen.

[@Chillmax]

As a Brit & a great admirer of America & Americans, I have oft thought as do you, that people of a similar public stature in America are rather more surface & simply don't operate at this level. I grew up listening to debates like this & it still seems quite normal to me; I think people who can debate like this still exist, it's the platforms, here being TV, that have fallen so far in quality, that they simply don't allow people to discuss at length like this anymore. In the unlikely event that this will change, this ability will eventually atrophy & completely die out, to the determent of us all.

[@Chillmax]

@Ernest Blundcron I think (some) people are still capable of this type of in depth debate, it's the platforms that have become so crass & stupid, as to not facilitate it in the first place. 'Your soundbite in 10 seconds please Mr X!"

[@victorsauvage1890]

F.D.R.’s “Fireside Chats”, (1930s) were very detailed discussions of national economic policy proposals - Specifically intended to inform the vast mass of working people - Many of whom could not read a newspaper.

[@Chillmax]

@@victorsauvage1890 Your comment making the very obvious point that this is now a long time ago. There will always be people & shows that buck the downward trend in public discourse, but it is sadly few & far between.

[@DarxydeDave]

Meanwhile everyone here seems to forget about Heath and SRA?

[@StephenRBeet]

They listened to each other and then replied. Very different from the shouting down of today. Foot was a giant!

[@markselvin2230]

Stephen Beet Big Foot

[@stormytempest3907]

Spot On.

[@pippiperade4030]

History has proved Michael Foot to be spot on with his analysis.

[@chriswilde7246]

All the way on that one and it also proves Heath was full of it!! As most of us already knew... Hence I remember him being booed out of number 10!!

[@stc40]

And a lot of people thought Foot wasn't credible...🤔

[@stc40]

Further to this, and going back a few year's previous, Hugh Gaitskell's speech on closer ties to Europe ( Google Gaitskell speech on Europe and ending a 1000 years of British history) , is an absolute must to watch. He was warning us about moving closer to the EU, long before foot was. Gaitskell is now history. He was, however, ahead of his time.....

[@TheMentalblockrock]

Labour then were a decent party.their policies had a lot in common with UKIP and brexit party.

[@dannywlm63]

And Tony Benn, Enoch Powell. Complete opposite opinions on nearly everything else but could clearly see the danger of the eu/eec/common market or what ever name it gives itself

[@Lite_Fare]

Such a calm and civil debate between ferocious opponents would be unimaginable today.

[@immaterialimmaterial5195]

Intelligent discussion. Wish we had more of this in today's politics.

[@ysgol3]

On a serious note, today's MPs are too thick to have a serious detailed debate like this. Can you imagine, say, David Davis and Diane Abbot having such a discussion ?

[@Harry-me1zq]

In a word no.

[@dmthandmade5674]

I can imagine Jeremy Corbyn doing it. I don't have to imagine whichever Tory chickening out, I've 2 examples of that in Cameron and the strong and stablebot.

[@Dath45556]

I certainly agree with your sentiment, but I think your choice of politicians was off. Diane Abbot has certainly received a great deal of shit recently, but she is a very clever woman. David Davis is also a very intelligent man. I've listened to a few great radio documentaries that he has made.

[@ysgol3]

Dath - Point taken and fully appreciated ! Thank you !

[@iandander2473]

Did you ever read David Davis' book How To Turn Round a Company? He is a highly intelligent man, unfortunately, he has to defend Theresa May all of the time.

[@hannahmillington5781]

2 politicians giving each other respect and time to answer, even though differing opinions, put together eloquently and making relevant points to each side of the argument. Where did this all go?!

[@richardfox6595]

This was a very insightful reading of the anti-democratic future EU by Mr Foot. In Margaret Thatcher's memoir she praised Mr Foot as a formidable debater and a gentleman; we see here why he deserved that respect from someone of greatly different political views.

[@minimax9452]

he paved the way for Mr. Johnson - a disgrace for GB. He made UK a laughing stock.

[@StephenRBeet]

Wonderful speech by Mr Foot.

[@dealerinhope]

Wow, I'm especially blown away by Michael Foot in this debate! He is an intellectual titan compared to what the average MP displays today. When you look at the distinct lack of talent in the current Cabinet (and Shadow Cabinet for that matter!) it's actually depressing to watch the political acumen on show in this video compared to what we typically have now! This is an enlightening debate where I feel impelled to listen to both sides. Yet sadly when I watch modern UK politicians running on like robots, usually following their limited brief and knowledge on the matter at hand, I simply feel like banging my head on a brick wall!

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

No interruptions, no talking over each other...today's politicians should view this video and learn.

[@davidmcbryde3570]

Amazing to think that Foot was correct on all points. Such a shame people were duped for decades.

[@Jennifer19854]

Michael Foot was spot on!

[@blueferretman64]

Absolutely spot on. It's as if Michael Foot had a crystal ball.

[@PibrochPonder]

That’s exactly what I was thinking

[@PibrochPonder]

@BenJervis62 why is he wrong in what he said? Can you please give an intelligent and logical answer.

[@craigg4219]

No he just read the contract.

[@mike520784]

This is what politicians were like before everyone became fuzzled by the Internet.

[@17attewell]

Foot was an intellectual far above the public debate and was spot on regarding the EU.

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

Here I sit, a committed Conservative, applauding Michael Foot, a committed Socialist. What has happened in the intervening years?

[@davidhodgson4685]

Our country was sold-out by 'committed conservatives' in those intervening years. Our nation has been undermined by mid-wits and market obsessed radicals - easy to see what is gained; not so easy to see what is lost.

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

I've always suspected that the fiscally conservative/neo-liberal economic model is thoroughly incompatible with social conservatism and that as the paradox drags on that the left in spite of itself offers a much more socially conservative vision than the right.

[@Beach_comber]

Foot is very good here isn't he! But this is the same Foot who supported crippling strikes called by undemocratic unions, run by Marxists and other low life, who made the country ungovernable in the 1970s. Thatcher saved us from the unions, but didn't realise that the EEC meant it when they talked about "economic and monetary union". Foot took them at their word and was proved right. What a disaster that's turned out to be! It seems that no politician has all the answers.

[@guidadiehl9176]

@@davidhodgson4685 Are you counting Tony Blair among those "committed conservatives"? Because he shares a huge proportion of the blame.

[@TheGlassman63]

I totally agree. Michael Foot had more intellect than any of these ill equipped Labour politicians of the current day. What a fine orator he was, though because he did not look the part he was never going to be electable. As a Conservative, i was obviously pleased about that. As for Ted Heath, well bring on Mrs T.

[@default-x3075]

Interviewer Llew Gardner at 26:16, to Michael Foot, " you've implied in everything you say... something very nasty is going to happen to us". Michael Foot was correct back in 1975; a visionary, for his time.

[@jamesmitchell8423]

At the time Michael Foot was portrayed by the media as a loony left winger.

[@ABC_DEF]

@@jamesmitchell8423 Not until the 1980s, I think.

[@louisemartin6820]

Nice to listen to intelligent debate with the interviewer letting it flow, foot has been proved right on every point, politicians of today do not have the intelligence to have such discussions who spend most of the time trying to talk over each other, with the modern day interviewer acting as a form of referee often chipping in with the particular channels agenda.

[@voice.of.reason]

That's very true

[@virginiadodsworth4000]

Mr Foot you were spot on, you were a very intelligent man! Wish you were in Britain today!

[@GasFinger1]

Get real you idiot heath was a sell out quisling

[@attlee45]

Michael Foot was an M.P for 42 years and Ted Heath for 51 years. Rishi Sunak has been an M.P. for 8 years, as has Keir Starmer. That is typical of all of the party leaders since 2010 (and all Tory leaders since 2005) except for the veteran Mr Corbyn. Almost none of the recent party leaders have either parliamentary skills or indeed any respect for the House of Commons. Power has inexorably drained from the Commons over the last forty or so years. This has coincided with the massive widening in the gap between the rich and poor.

[@princebuster93]

@Attlee, Corbyn is a Marxist, a controlled puppet.

[@EdWood2006]

I'm glad people on here are seeing the true Michael Foot - a man of intellect, integrity and passion for the British Parliament and British institutions, and not the version put forward by the Daily Mail and other Tory rags when he became leader.

[@marycull3607]

When Labour was for the working class.

Another sign of how the standards have fallen in a few short years.

[@benstevinson764]

Michael Foot was a Gentleman! Highly intelligent and intellectual individual! RIP🌹

[@alanmockford8516]

Ted Heath did fight for democracy. He was a front line soldier in WW2. That is why he was so committed to the European project - the most successful peace project in history.

[@TheTeddyBearsWon]

It’s amazing that I thought I’d ever agree with Mr Foot, and it’s astounding that Mr Foot got it absolutely right. Forty plus years later what he said had come to fruition.

[@karlbassett8485]

Yep, and Tony Benn was saying the same things. Shame neither lived to see the UK leave.

[@tayraw]

I remember the day my labour supporting father threw the campaigners off our doorstep and called Foot a bumbling idiot. I wonder what he would think in retrospect? I never saw any of this as was too young to vote or care at the time. Foot seems like a true leader and very knowledgeable and turns out he was right.

[@hughmackay5200]

Incredible. As a Conservative, I find myself agreeing with everything Michael Foot said, and disagreeing fundamentally with everything said by Ted Heath!!

[@tancreddehauteville764]

You're not a conservative, you're a UKIPer.

[@fortyminutes]

You are a proper conservative

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

Foot could be speaking today !!! He identified the reasons to leave even then !! Fantastic!!

[@musicplateau1]

Masterclass by Foot and proof that this was indeed a kangaroo court from the word off.

[@pinchermartyn3959]

Labour party now should look at this.

[@jlink2586]

Edward Heath at 6:50 refers to Michael Foot as a socialist, ie left wing. How interesting that people who want Brexit today are called 'far right'. It seems to me that it is not about who is on the left or who is on the right, but much more about who is for one world globalism - political and economic and religious globalism. And who wants to retain their sovereignty and freedom and cultural heritage and freedom of religion. Also, I like the way that these old time politicians do not constantly interrupt each other but are more polite than today.

[@andym6256]

I agree with your point except on the subject of ‘religious globalism’, whatever that is

[@stevebee5840]

Smart fellow Michael Foot...pity todays labour politicians are not more like him

[@sjewitt22]

Are you serious, The fact Corbyn was so similar to him was the stick the media used to beat him with.

[@greghayes5712]

Very interesting to look back at this type of debate and to see two people of completely different viewpoints have a reasoned discussion without resorting to personal insults like present politicians do. It’s also interesting to see how well Michael Foot makes his points ,even though I would personally disagree with most of them, yet was completely unelectable as Labour leader. Looking at the comments section a lot of people say how right Foot has been proved all these years later, but like most things in life if we all wait long enough our views may be proven to be right eventually. As an Irish man I’m not convinced that the EEC/EU has all been bad for the UK, there are always going to be compromises in big geo political decisions, some good some bad, it doesn’t necessarily mean that if the UK had never been in the EU, things would always be & have been better

[@Nuttybott]

"Llew Gardner mediates between Labours Michael Foot and The former conservative leader Edward Heath, on the forthcoming referendum an whether the UK should join the common Market. " Wrong...the 1975 referendum was not about joining the Common Market. Britain was already a member of the EEC at this time, and had been since the beginning of 1973. There was no vote offered on joining. The referendum was a remain/leave decision, similar to the 2016 vote.

[@MrEggo2711]

Can anyone point out a glaring significant point in 1975 vote for Remain 17,378,581 2016 vote for Remain 16,141,241 DECREASE in 41 years 1,237,340 1975 vote for Leave 8,470,073 2016 vote for Leave 17,410,742 INCREASE in 41 years 8,470,073 Remoaners, please don't ever say it was close 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

I think you just proved that it was 😆

[@NoosaHeads]

I never thought I would agree with Michael Foot - but he was absolutely right.

[@thedativecase9733]

Could someone make more of this type of intelligent political debate available on You Tube? This is the level of debate I remember my parents watching on TV as a kid. It might remind politicians and voters that there was a different way of doing politics. Michael Foot was insulted by the Tory press but he had a fine intellect.

[@myla6135]

He was always viewed as an intellectual, but correctly the Press called him out on his rather poor policies. He simply couldn't win an election as those policies were just too far left.

[@RadicalCaveman]

@@myla6135 His policies were correct as were his arguments.

[@conorspence5332]

@@myla6135 Yes, largely because the press says a leftist can't win

[@HenryMcGuinnessGuitar]

1:55 Ted Heath does the archetypal politician's question dodge. "Do you accept that Mr Heath" "I don't entirely, but before we come to that I just want to make a general point..." ie: he's about to lie to you - big time. He doesn't want to answer the question clearly, the way Michael Foot did. It should be fairly clear to any viewer how circuitous* Heath's reply is - always a danger sign with politicians. * a trip to the online thesaurus gave me a new (to me) word: "periphrasis: the use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing"

[@eaglewing572001]

Michael Foot was then talking the truthof a powerless parliament

[@teresaharrison5773]

Interesting! I was 14 at the time and I did not wish to join the common market! History shows Michael Foot was spot on. 👌

[@richardscotland1]

Only 44,000 views, this should be aired on prime time tv for the whole nation as it is as up to date now as it was all those years ago. (Check out the equally compelling debate between Tony Benn and Roy Jenkins on the same subject). Michael Foot showed himself in every way superior to Edward Heath. By honesty, intellectual prowess and foresight he made and still makes a compelling case for Brexit. Looking on the brightside, however, although Ted Heath began the proccess of surrendering our sovereignty, gave away our fishing grounds and signed us up to the absurd Common Agricultural Policy we did manage to keep European juggernauts off our roads.

[@mojo199]

They wouldn't dare show this on TV

[@ian_b]

Turned out that Heath was lying about just about everything.

[@alban1959]

If you call expressing an opinion which differs from your own "lying", then perhaps. I say this as a lifelong socialist.

[@ian_b]

@@alban1959 He lied about the nature of the EU and sovereignty. He knew the intention was a superstate but denied it.

[@alban1959]

Evidence that he lied? Evidence that the EU is a "superstate"?

[@daleharrison1689]

@MacGregor Mathers Exactly, the elite had a hold over Heath, to control him to deliver their projected agenda.

[@creagmac3017]

@MacGregor Mathers you obviously believed the words of a witness that was totally discredited. Guttersnipe !

[@briancarter1259]

Foot wins the debate hands down and shows Heath to be the deceitful man he was when he signed us up originally without giving us the full facts of what lay in store for us further down the line.

[@kathydabney7255]

Crickey they actually seem to be answering the questions! That a novelty that seems now. AND they seem to know exactly what they are talking about, backing their argument with facts . But, sadly, after decades of poor education in our state schools, and 22 years since Blair turned state education into political re-education from the left, and mass immigration from both Europe and the world, our electorate are ill equipped to make rational decisions for the good of the UK, it is inconceivable that the majority now would set aside their own issues for the national good. But then not even our politicians do that any more.

[@Dbdbe1]

Nonsensical conspiracy crap. Stupid comment

[@dac545j]

I remember this imagined headline from a newspaper that wondered out loud the types of headlines that might occur with Michael Foot: "Foot Heads Arms Body"

[@stevena2553]

As a politics teacher, I would rate this as quality educational material featuring a proper debate on Britain and Europe facilitating students with the necessary tools to form a rational argument and an informed understanding. It is an absolute disgrace that the quality of the narrative and discourse has since gone down the toilet in a culture of spectacle politics, spin and vacuous, spurious soundbites. In 1975, people were able to make an informed decision. In contrast, 2016 featured spurious, self-seeking fear mongers who lied with impunity recklessly fomenting prejudicial division with no end in sight.

[@OutaDark]

Ted Heath - Could be Treason May's alter-ego. How do these MPs find it so easy to lie to the British electorate without a glimmer of remorse? Michael Foot and Tony Benn never took their eye off the ball. Amazing how prophetic they both were...

[@jurgen6768]

Absoloute nonsense. Foot and Benn were full of this english exceptionalism and this deluded self belief of their version of sovereignty . Look at the state of the UK post brexit. Tearing itself apart , buisnesses unable to trade properly with its biggest market , businesses relocating to the EU in order to carry on doing trade and the list goes on.

[@guidadiehl9176]

@@jurgen6768 When you step outside your door you really do believe that you're living in some kind of Mad Max-style wasteland, don't you? Extraordinarily delusional.

[@christophersargent6385]

They find it easy to lie, because THEY HAVE TO to get the job. Its part of the job discription..

[@christophersargent6385]

@@jurgen6768 I think you have conveniently forgot COVID...

[@Chillmax]

My gut tells me I trust Foot over Heath & arguably, depending on your view, it turned out to be so.

[@Buttlands]

It certainly did.

[@TheForkhandles]

Ted Heath, Michael Foot, Tony Benn, Enoch Powell, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, Nigel Lawson, Dennis Healy, Michael Heseltine, David Owen, Shirley Williams, Geoffrey Howe, Keith Joseph. Compared with today's politicians they were moral and intellectual giants.

[@princebuster93]

@TheForkHandles, Edward Heath, was profiled at Oxford, became a German Agent for the DVD out of Dachau Germany, for the job of lying to the British people about joining the EU. The fact he took the bribe means the treaty is illegal

[@BillyBronco73]

Foot was a brilliant man and Parliamentarian. It is a shame that he is remembered now more for his failure as Labour leader. It has always struck me that EEC/EU membership was never a left wing or right wing issue. There were MPs who were poles apart in terms of their politics who were sceptical about the European project.

[@huytonbaddy]

did mike foot have a time machine ?

[@kramniboh1189]

One Foot in the Future

[@gaygambler]

Kram Niboh we live in a capitalist society mate. It’s all about cash. Money always wins.

[@gaygambler]

Riftgardian so you hate the ideals of the capitalism class. Eu is to maximum profit. Cash rules mate. Money always wins.

[@gazriley624]

yes he did

[@stephenb1962]

Well done Footie. You may have gained power at this election 2019 should you have been the Labour leader

[@margin606]

Superb debate!

[@phillipgreer4875]

For once Michael Foot was spot on. The one thing that united two figures so far apart, Foot and Enoch Powell, uk membership of the Common market/EU. We should have listened to them not the clueless prat Heath.

[@iandander2473]

Back then, Labour stood for something, socialists were socialists and for the working class, and were anti-EU. I'm not Labour, but I appreciate their passion and honesty.

[@raymonddavies6507]

ian dander Back then the Labour Party's policy was to leave the EU. That was until 1988 when Jacques Delores attended the TUC conference and wooed the TUC and Labour Party to change from anti EU to pro EU, leading to the foundations of the pro EU Blair government take over in 1997, and their desertion of working class voters

[@gary-9340]

@@raymonddavies6507 That being said, Michael Foot and Tony Benn remained anti-EU until their death.

[@gillwil]

These were the days politicians had a brain...today they are lapdogs of EU. Also interviewer wasnt trying to catch anyone out and ask for anyone's resignation. Transitional arrangement going in...!!

[@neil5568]

Its astonishing that the former PM of the United Kingdom thought that in 1975 there were 7.5 million Scottish people! Scotland's population today is only just over 5.2 million! I thought that it was the Conservative and UNIONIST party.

[@neil5568]

I take back what I said a moment ago (see below).

[@VincentRE79]

Edward Heath knew exactly what the Common Market was about and what it would lead to and chose to hide it from the British people.

[@patriotsvnwo5217]

I miss the high quality of debate like this 1 demonstrates. Michael Foot had great insight and has been proven 100% correct.

[@fingerhorn4]

What is the difference between this debate and current debates? Answer 1) Spoken English was five times more articulate and eloquent. 2) Politicians were five times better briefed. 3) Politicians could at least string a cogent sentence together, which they can hardly achieve now.

[@Buttlands]

Yes, I did notice that, good point.

[@HiggsBosonMusic]

Talk abt Big Foot, he stomped all over Heath.

[@jacksugden8190]

Hadn’t seen the late Llew Gardner for many years, and sadly both his guests are no longer with us.

[@philipharris-smith5889]

Foot was right and what a wicked trail of lies and backsliding we have had since swallowing the lies peddled at that time.

[@jamesdobson8467]

That quick look at the camera each time after being exposed by Mr Foot tells you what you need to know.

[@AndrewGraham07]

Great upload, perfect timing. Chapeau !

[@eaglewing572001]

purpose of the "community" was even then to construct a new "Holy Roman Empire" a central government of separate European "countries"......without telling the people of Europe (then just France etc.,)....

[@alban1959]

Forgive me, but the sole purpose of the EU is financial. Its purpose is to generate markets and money. Also, for that matter, the sole purpose of diplomacy, of which I have some knowledge, is to make such trade treaties as will benefit, so far as can be foreseen, the countries of the respective diplomats. Trade and money govern the whole process.

[@thornbird6768]

@@alban1959 As in Margaret Thatchers own words “ NO , NO , NO “ !!!!

[@johnthomas8492]

WOW! I really wish this debate had been shown prior to the 2016 referendum, as I think the margin of victory would have been even greater for the leave campaign. It shows the level of betrayal of the British people, and peoples of Europe in general. The real fundamental questions of sovereignty and democracy were largely skirted around in the main debates. Instead the debate became centered around immigration, border controls and the economy. Those issues are important, however, they allowed the remain campaign to frame leavers as racist xenophobes, who didn't care about the country's economic outlook! It was a grotesque misrepresentation of leave voters that still exists today. Its so telling that Micheal Foot's very real concerns were immediately met by Ted Heath's childish misrepresentations of his arguments, as he knows deep down that Foot is absolutely correct about the then EEC! And the argument - back then in 1975 from remainers - 'of we are better off in, so we can change and democratise the stucture of the EEC/EU', is still being spouted by remainers today......has anything changed in 43 years??? NO, and it never will because it was never meant to! Hierarchies, if unchecked, will always tend to centralise power more and more to fewer and fewer! People forget just how hard fought parliamentary democracy, with all its checks and balances was. Million's died over centuries, to get rights, freedom, justice and democracy!! Our system certainly is not perfect, but its far better then what the the EU has to offer, and we tear it down at our own peril! The next time anyone tells you that we are better off remaining, ask them the following questions: 1. Explain to me who makes EU laws? 2. Describe the hierarchical structure of the EU? 3. Who is the President of the EU commission? 4. Name one commissioner? 5. Who is the President of the EU council? 6. Who is your local MEP, what do they do and what are their powers? 7. Did you vote in the last EU elections? I guarantee you that they will all look confused, and they will have know idea WHATSOEVER, as to what the answers are. The question then should be the following: If you don't you know anything about the EU, why are you supporting it?? Maybe then the penny will drop and remainers will realise that instead of labeling leavers as bigoted, ignorant racists, they would be better off doing some homework into what it is they voted for, and why the still support it!!

[@zacpearce315]

The people has spoken 😅👽👽👾👽👽👿

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

@morbeus Morbeus Exactly. Nobody would watch it. Except people like me, who cannot stand X-factor and all that moronic dribble-feed.

[@karubu]

It's still true.

[@niceone2903]

A Maori man I once worked with in the early 70s who was into politics and had been a WW2 soldier in the Maori battalion, asked me very directly one day. Do you think Britain will join the Common Market. I said I wouldn't have a clue. He said, Look at the newspaper's they are saying if Britian joins the Common Market .They have no choice. And then he went on to say that the C.E. was created to crush Britian.

[@stephenasbridge878]

Michael Foot was a great intellect, writer, debater and parliamentarian.....the comparisons people have made with Corbyn are an insult to his memory.

[@SometimesInnocent]

1975 Edward Heath, " Population of Scotland. Seven and a half million." LOL. Such ignorance.

[@alban1959]

it was about 5.5 million then

[@WallopInn]

Heath was an imbecile

[@Englishman-Abroad]

Proper civilised intelligent debate. Where did we go wrong?

[@robertewing3114]

Ironically all began to go wrong when this Foot wrote GUILTY MEN - bandwagon politics exploiting the appeasement controversy and helping to take the heat off what his Party was doing opposing rearmament and calling Chamberlain a war-monger. Foot did not use his name, he is gentlemanly here and arguably right but he was neither gentlemanly nor right in GUILTY MEN. Foot, a guilty man, as was Churchill who consciously lied in THE GATHERING STORM. What fools they made of so many people.

Heath reminds me of Chamberlain waving his bit of paper when he talks about the goals of the EU - Three words: EVER CLOSER UNION...

[@Dbdbe1]

Well then your grasp of history is exceptionally poor. Whatever the problems associated with the EU it is nothing like Nazi Germany. What a disgusting comment

[@TalesOfTheRiverBank]

A time when Labour tried to stand up for the ordinary people of this country, instead of the version of Labour that we now have.

[@alanmcdonald4423]

It is most important to note that this video refers to the "Common Market". The ballot paper itself in the first referendum gave the explanatory name "Common Market" to the EC. The British voting public were told all along that we were voting to remain in a Common Market - not the truth that we were voting to join an "ever closer union", the words used in the original founding Treaty of Rome. Is it any wonder there was such a huge majority of voters inclined to remain in what they were told is only a trading bloc? Had they been told the truth then result may well have been different.

[@23rdjune]

Heath's eyes are really shifty and his breathing gets very quick! You've been found out matey!

[@frankfeely9235]

Amazing, same arguments different actors. Note that Heath doesn't know the population of Scotland which was 5.23 million at the time.

[@freemenofengland2880]

Michael Foot - what an absolute legend!

[@iand.3544]

This is a real eye opener. As Labour leader, Michael Foot took his Party into the 1983 General Election with a clear mandate to exit the EC. What then changed under Neil Kinnock when Labour did a volte face and became EU friendly? This continued even further with Blair who I believe would have taken us into a politically federal Europe if he had got his way. Unbelievable.

[@raymonddavies6507]

Ian D The change came in 1988 when Jacques Delores Head of the European Commission visited the TUC conference and promised the TUC that the EU could over rule the British parliament, and rescind the anti trade union legislation laws, if the TUC and Labour united with and supported the EU. In doing this, The Labour party laid the foundation of the Blair take over of the Labour party. Kinnock originally was anti EU but soon changed his mind when offered an EU commissioner's post.

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

@@raymonddavies6507 Yes spot on.

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

Blair was going to give us a referendum before Lisbon but after other countries rejected the treaty he backed out of doing it.

[@briandelaney9710]

Because Labour saw the EU finally as the only way of getting rid of the terrible effects of Thatcherism in the UK.

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

@@briandelaney9710 The single market a defining piece of the E.U jigsaw was a thatcher invention.

[@ysgol3]

Surely this was last week ? GREAT upload.

[@teresaharrison5773]

ysgol3 no this was uploaded last week! This is around 1975.

[@ysgol3]

Teresa - yes, thank you, I do know that ! What I meant, in a tongue in cheek way, was that the POINTS BEING MADE are as relevant today as they were in 1975...........Oh dear oh dear..........

[@converse91970]

ysgol3 LOL!

[@colshythecomedian]

Michael Foot stood all over Heath's arguments.

[@randomvide1]

Scottish population in 1978 was roughly 5mill. Heaths states its 7.5mil

[@htershane]

This is the way to do a “presidential debate”, no braying audiences, no spin doctoring.....just get it done. Not all things in the old days were archaic, this was ahead of its time!

[@nigelmartin2254]

"A grotesque distortion" said Edward Heath as he dismissed the assessment of Michael Foot's analysis of the working mechanics of the European Economic Union. With the fullness of time, we now realise he was lying through his teeth.

[@Juulmand1]

What is interesting about this discussion is that Mr. Heath and Mr. Foot almost never interrupt each other. Modern politicians should learn from this example. So should the BBC.

[@mazzarouni5608]

Juulmand1 I agree, but there’s something else. These two high calibre politicians were first of all chaired by a good chairman. Secondly, and more importantly, they were given the time to discuss and debate. There is space to explore the subject.

[@Juulmand1]

@@mazzarouni5608 Yes, you are right. There is no longer any patience or intellectual stamina for long debates.

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

Interesting how Labour's view on Europe has inverted a full 180 degrees since 1975.

[@geoffbrooks3710]

And very sad

[@booshblue72]

Although with the Corbyn, McDonnell leadership currently in charge it's more like a 360.

[@wilsonfisk6626]

Blame Kinnock and Blair

[@angelahayes24]

Foot was absolutely right on this

[@saxglend9439]

In your opinion.

[@thornbird6768]

And Enoch Powell 👍🏻

[@thornbird6768]

@@saxglend9439 In a lot of people’s opinion

[@richardsharpe2966]

The British public made the correct decision on 23rd-24th June 2016

[@JrCrawfordGA]

You left the common market, now Ireland and Scotland are gonna leave you. How's that the right decision?

[@mrspeaker6720]

Yes, it's all going swimmingly

[@imdbist]

@@JrCrawfordGA we haven't left anything yet.

[@nickvinehill7491]

Albeit 40 yers previous, it would have been a useful debate to be heard/archived at some time during the 2016 referendum.

[@jasonuren3479]

Heath: "(Statutory instruments) pour into Parliament, Parliament doesn't examine them. It just looks at a minority of them, because we know in practical experience it just isn't possible." Amazing that people heard Heath say that back then, in relation to the EU and never questioned it. Shocking.

[@jeffsmith3392]

As a Tory… Michael Foot was right in his assessment!

[@Davidwilliams-lk7hb]

Well then you don't understand the mechanisms of the now EU. The EU is far more transparent than our government especially under the Tories

[@Davidwilliams-lk7hb]

Foot was out of his depth. His anti Europe blocked his brain. Much the same as Corbyn

[@RobertBurke-tq9zu]

​@Davidwilliams-lk7hb Utter drivel

[@jeffsmith3392]

@@RobertBurke-tq9zu so says a Labour voter who can’t accept his party’s heritage. lol, suck it up buttercup!

[@ABC_DEF]

Michael Foot's points were absolutely correct and were still absolutely correct nearly half a century later. He saw that we would have to leave the EU and he was right.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

Foot was a giant of the Commons, but he was still a man of the early 20th century or even the 19th century. Heath was a man ahead of his time, who saw that sovereignty should not be the be all and end all, and there are many other important factors at play that outweigh the issue of sovereignty when taken together. That said, this was a debate several levels higher in intellectual value than what modern politicians are capable of nowadays.

[@davidtanycoed]

Heath's expression is priceless - its says it all

[@benellis9665]

This is absolutely fascinating! The left which would today be labelled as woke remoaners were playing the role we would now recognise as Brexiteers! And a debate without them shouting over each other constantly!