The True Story Of Michael Foot’s ‘Donkey Jacket’: 5 Ways A Single Coat Changed British Political History

Few items of clothing in British political history carry the weight, controversy, and enduring symbolism of the coat worn by Labour Party leader Michael Foot at the 1981 Remembrance Sunday service. What was infamously—and inaccurately—dubbed a "donkey jacket" by the right-wing press has become a lasting image, representing not just a man’s perceived scruffiness but the entire struggle of the Labour movement during its 1980s "wilderness years."

As of December 15, 2025, the incident remains a powerful case study in how media portrayal and political fashion can overshadow policy and character. The true story of the garment is a lesson in political spin, where a simple winter coat was weaponized to portray one of the UK's most intellectual and principled politicians as unpatriotic and unfit for office.

Michael Foot: A Profile of the Man Behind the Coat

Michael Mackintosh Foot (1913–2010) was a towering figure in the British Labour Party, known for his fiery oratory, profound intellect, and deep commitment to socialist principles. His life and career were marked by a passionate dedication to working-class causes, nuclear disarmament, and journalism.

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Key Biographical Details and Political Career

• Full Name: Michael Mackintosh Foot
• Born: 23 July 1913, Plymouth, Devon, England
• Died: 3 March 2010, Hampstead, London, England
• Education: Wadham College, Oxford (graduated in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics)
• Primary Career: Politician, journalist, and author. He was a co-founder and editor of the left-wing weekly newspaper, *Tribune*.
• Parliamentary Service: Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Devonport (1945–1955) and Ebbw Vale/Blaenau Gwent (1960–1992).
• Cabinet Role: Secretary of State for Employment (1974–1976) and Leader of the House of Commons (1976–1979) under Prime Minister James Callaghan.
• Party Leadership: Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1980 to 1983.
• Political Ideology: A fierce advocate for the left, often seen as the political heir to his mentor, Aneurin Bevan.

Foot's leadership of the Labour Party came at a particularly challenging time, following the 'Winter of Discontent' and the rise of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government. His intellectual, anti-establishment style was a stark contrast to the emerging slick, media-savvy politics of the 1980s.

The Cenotaph Controversy: Remembrance Sunday, 1981

The "donkey jacket" scandal erupted following the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, on 8 November 1981. This annual event is one of the most solemn and formal occasions in the British political calendar, requiring strict adherence to traditional dress codes.

As Leader of the Opposition, Michael Foot was expected to lay a wreath alongside the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. On this cold, wet day, Foot arrived wearing a coat that was dark, relatively short, and thick. It was a perfectly warm, practical garment, but it was not the traditional, formal black or dark-grey overcoat that convention dictated for such an occasion.

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The Media Weaponisation of a Winter Coat

The reaction from the Conservative-leaning press was immediate and vicious. Tabloids, most notably *The Sun* newspaper, seized upon the coat, deriding it as a "donkey jacket".

• The Smear: A donkey jacket is historically a piece of heavy-duty workwear, typically dark blue or black wool with a distinctive PVC or leather shoulder patch, worn by manual labourers, dockers, and construction workers.
• The Symbolism: By labelling Foot's coat a "donkey jacket," the media successfully linked him to an image of scruffiness, disrespect for the armed forces, and a general lack of professionalism suitable for a national leader.
• The Political Damage: The incident was used to reinforce a narrative that Foot and the Labour Party were shambolic, unpatriotic, and out of touch with the mainstream electorate, a narrative that contributed significantly to Labour's crushing defeat in the 1983 General Election.

The controversy was so intense that Foot's biographer, Kenneth O. Morgan, later noted that the "Cenotaph donkey jacket proved to be a more enduring image than the man's profound intellect".

The True Identity: Why It Wasn't a Donkey Jacket

One of the most crucial elements of this political fashion scandal is that the coat Michael Foot wore was, in fact, not a donkey jacket at all. The term was a deliberate and effective piece of media misrepresentation.

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The Real Garment

The coat was a short, dark green or dark blue heavy-duty winter coat. Some sources suggest it was a version of a Duffle Coat, while others simply call it an "overcoat". Regardless of the precise style, it lacked the defining features of a true donkey jacket, particularly the synthetic shoulder patches.

The coat's true nature was irrelevant to the press campaign. The aim was to create a powerful, negative visual shorthand for Foot's leadership. The coat was a symbol of his perceived refusal to play by the rules of the establishment, which, to his critics, meant he was unfit for the highest office.

The Enduring Legacy of Political Fashion Symbolism

The legacy of the "donkey jacket" is a testament to the power of political messaging and the enduring role of clothing in public life. The incident is frequently cited in modern political analysis:

1. The Birth of the Media Smear: It is seen as an early, highly successful example of a media smear campaign focused entirely on a superficial detail to undermine a politician's credibility.
2. The 'Scruffy' Left Stereotype: It cemented the stereotype of the Labour left as being intellectually brilliant but practically shambolic and unable to manage a modern state.
3. A Museum Piece: The infamous coat itself is now a striking exhibit, having been donated to a museum, where it serves as a physical reminder of the controversy.
4. A Modern Political Parallel: The incident is often compared to more recent political fashion or decorum controversies, such as the media scrutiny over Dominic Cummings' trip during lockdown or other politicians' sartorial choices, highlighting the timeless nature of media scrutiny on public figures.
5. The Triumph of Image Over Substance: For many commentators, the coat’s impact proved that in the television age, a single, damaging image can outweigh a lifetime of political principle and intellectual contribution, ultimately costing the Labour Party the 1983 election.

Michael Foot remained resentful about the controversy until his death, viewing it as a gross misrepresentation and an unfair attack on his character and patriotism. Despite the negative press, the coat is now viewed by many of his supporters as a symbol of his authenticity, his working-class solidarity, and his refusal to conform to the elitist expectations of Westminster's political class.