British Labour chief offers to quit if party would gain

British opposition leader Michael Foot said he would step down as head of the Labour Party if it would help his party gain power. He was commenting on a public opinion poll that showed half the population thought Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher the best leader available. But Mr. Foot made clear he expected and wanted to lead a future government of the Labour Party, which has ruled Britain for 17 of the 38 years since the end of World War II.

Mrs. Thatcher is widely expected to call elections soon - perhaps as early as June.