Tony Benn Rip

[Ric.ror]

End of an era ?

[naomi24]

Mikey, why are you in shock? He was 88!!

[mikey4444]

carol...with respect, you completely misunderstand Tony Benn. I can't think of a better example of socialism. He gave up his Peerage in order to serve the people of Bristol South for many years, than in Chesterfield. This reminds me of the argument that said that Bob Crow shouldn't have a holiday in Brazil, because he was working class.

Tony Benn's right to be called a Socialist is firmly in place, and cannot be deinied.

[mikey4444]

No naomi...not shock so much perhaps but extreme sorrow. I saw him in one of his stage performances many years ago, and I will never forget it. He fitted an awful lot into his working life.

[ELVIS68]

He's been knocking on deaths door for months, hardly a shocker

[naomi24]

Mikey, I don't think anyone said Bob Crow shouldn't have a holiday in Brazil because he was 'working class'. They did question his choice to live in a council house when earning about £150,000pa.

[Peter Pedant]

End of an era

he was a Labour politician of the old school

wild staring eyes, didnt make sense but had a rich wife.

OK one of those statements is wrong -
guess which one
yes his wife - she was VERY rich

[Peter Pedant]

Ferret - I think if you ferret around, you will find he was Minister of Technology
"in the white heat of the technological revolution"
In 1984 fashion, we called it MiniTech

He was a conviction politician of deep left sympathies
he may have closed more coal mines
but he was MP for Patchway Bristol and that was where Concorde was built - white heat of technology - geddit? so he didnt close that. Oh No.
He had a deep conviction that if he did, he would lose his seat.

R I P

[mikey4444]

PP...not sure why his wife had money or not is relevant ?

[youngmafbog]

I could never agree with his politics but I do have an admiration for anyone who stands by his or her convictions as he did.

No, not the end of an era, he has not been really active for some years.

[marval]

Rest in peace Tony.

[ToraToraTora]

......and he was anti EU!

[quizzywig]

What a shame. I've read his diaries and found them very informative. What an interesting man he was. He came to a club near us some years ago and gave a talk - Mr Q and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There will never be another gentleman like him.

[Butterbun]

R I P Tony Benn.

[maggiebee]

Admired him greatly. Always thought he would make a great Prime Minister. RIP Tony you will be missed by many.

[gness]

There won't Quizzy...and what a great pity......R.I.P....x

[ChillDoubt]

Love him or loathe him there is no denying he worked tirelessly and selflessly and was passionate about what he did.

RIP.

[ludwig]

I always liked him. He seemed to be a man of integrity and conviction.

[LazyGun]

Sad to hear of his passing, although not surprised. He had to cancel several speaking engagements last year through ill-health and 88 is not a bad innings.

As others have already commented, he was almost an anachronism when compared with todays politicians - committed, passionate, measured and intelligent, and most important of all - a conviction politician. These are increasingly few and far between, it seems to me, to the detriment of our political class.

Heard him speak several times over the years. One of the best and most powerful debaters I have had the pleasure of listening to.

As an aside - I did not agree with Bob Crow over his insistence upon remaining in his council house - I felt that he earned a good living and could have easily afforded to move out and free up the property for more needy clients - but it is untrue that his salary was £150K per year; His salary was £96K as of 2012

[Peter Pedant]

Mikey: PP...not sure why his wife had money or not is relevant

Money is always relevant if you dont have it -
or as Churchill said, even half a crown is a lot of money if you dont have it.


He kept Labour out of govt for twenty y ( aided and abetted b one Arthur Scargill ) so I agree he cant be all bad.