Tony Benn is also dead

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:36

So, Tony Benn has died at the age of 88.

Whether you agree with his politics or not (and I agree with some and not with other bits), he was a real colossus of politics, and seemed to be someone with real conviction and with the deeds to stand by his words (I can't imagine many of the current Labour lot campaigning to allow for the renunciation of peerages so they can not be a Lord!).

He shall be missed.

"If we can find money to kill people, we can find money to help people"

myp · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:40

I was lucky enough to see him make a speech at the Tollpuddle Martyrs festival a number of years back. An excellent public speaker and a giant of politics. The idealogical right made him out to be eccentric and mad, but this is because they were afraid of him mainly.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38667

Quote:

Benn did not stand at the 2001 general election; as he explained it, he was "leaving parliament in order to spend more time on politics"

myp · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:42

I will miss his rice.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

I was struck by this excerpt from the Wikipedia article about him. Depressingly, this is him speaking about how he felt in the 70s and, if anything, it's only become more relevant today:

Quote:

As regards the power of industrialists and bankers, Benn remarked:

Compared to this, the pressure brought to bear in industrial disputes by the unions is minuscule. This power was revealed even more clearly in 1976 when the IMF secured cuts in our public expenditure. [...] These [four] lessons led me to the conclusion that the UK is only superficially governed by MPs and the voters who elect them. Parliamentary democracy is, in truth, little more than a means of securing a periodical change in the management team, which is then allowed to preside over a system that remains in essence intact. If the British people were ever to ask themselves what power they truly enjoyed under our political system they would be amazed to discover how little it is

For context, this is the paragraph that precedes it about his 'four lessons':

Quote:

By the end of the 1970s, Benn had migrated to the left wing of the Labour Party. He attributed this political shift to his experience as a Cabinet Minister in the 1964–1970 Labour Government. Benn attributed his move to the left to four lessons: 1) how "the Civil Service can frustrate the policies and decisions of popularly elected governments"; 2) the centralised nature of the Labour Party allowing to the Leader to run "the Party almost as if it were his personal kingdom"; 3) "the power of industrialists and bankers to get their way by use of the crudest form of economic pressure, even blackmail, against a Labour Government"; and 4) the power of the media, which "like the power of the medieveal Church, ensures that events of the day are always presented from the point of the view of those who enjoy economic privilege

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:47

Credit to Riles for this (though he probably nicked it from Twitter):

Not for the first time, england find themselves with an impossible to fill gap on the left wing going into a world cup.

TheVision · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:50

British Nervoso wrote:

I will miss his rice.

Also his crooning.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:57

I went to hear him speak on several occasions, including one time at the local cathedral talking about Christianity. Always very impressive, highly knowledgeable, and very passionate about his beliefs.

Feel political life in this country will be that bit blander and duller without people like him.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

Curiosity wrote:

Credit to Riles for this (though he probably nicked it from Twitter):

Not for the first time, england find themselves with an impossible to fill gap on the left wing going into a world cup.

All my own work.

I wrote a long rambling post in the Bob Crow thread that I decided against submitting about why I wouldn't miss him, not because of his political leanings, not because tube strikes affect me (they don't) but because I disagree that he did the best thing for his members (or anyone else).

I equally don't align myself with Tony Benns politics in many cases, but he was a good man.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:27

One of the many refreshing things about him was his reluctance to descend to the childish politics of namecalling but preferring to deal with issues and debate. I've always liked his aphorism 'never wrestle a chimneysweep' - the dirt gets on you too.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

The appropriate way to mourn Tony's passing is to find a good cause, find the people fighting for it and give of your time to support them.

Today isn't a loss to the left, or a loss to labour, it's a loss to the human race and the entire concept of good in the world. What a guy.

Anonymous X · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2046

What else can I say but rest in peace. I don't think the man was a saint, but the world is certainly a poorer place without him.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

A true and genuine hero, a man of solid and profoundly decent principles.

The world would be a better place, and the human race would be a better species, had his vision for our place on this earth come to pass.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I had the great pleasure of meeting him at Glastonbury last year. He was pretty frail, but a total gentleman, and seemed to me to be entirely with it still mentally.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:37

George Galloway can get to fuck.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

LewieP wrote:

I had the great pleasure of meeting him at Glastonbury last year. He was pretty frail, but a total gentleman, and seemed to me to be entirely with it still mentally.

Yeah he came to the Isle of Man a couple of years ago for a speaking evening, and whilst his physical health was clearly declining his mind was 100%.

It felt slightly like being in the company of Jesus.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:47

Avoid being in company of jesus, did NOT end well for his disciples.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

AtrocityExhibition wrote:

It felt slightly like being in the company of Jesus.

You imagined it?

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22397

There was only fish and bread on the menu?

Kern · **Posted:** Sat Mar 15, 2014 11:10

One was in denial, one was riddled with doubt, and another hung himself.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

Expanding on Curiosity's quote above:

Be Excellent To Each Other

Tony Benn is also dead
A bad week for the Left

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Tony Benn is also dead A bad week for the Left

Who is online

Tony Benn is also dead
A bad week for the Left