RIP Tony Benn

[OldBlueLady]

Died this morning at the grand old age of 88. A man of principle and integrity, unlike the current lot of politicians. RIP.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Oh dear, as OBL posts a proper Labour politician who believed in values and respect for working men and women. Also a person too far ahead of his time to be properly accepted and too honest with his views and opinions to be acceptable to other flexible colleagues.

 

[Lord Football]

A true and proper gentlemen, who firmly believe politics was about politics and not personalities.

Spoke to man on many, many occassions, but then again, so did pretty much every active leftist I know. Thats because he always had time for people, and had manners.

 

[steveo]

Another millionaire socialist bites the dust. RIP the left.

 

[MK Shrimper]

A titan of the left has left these shores and we will never see his like again. RIP Tony.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Those scraps he had with Chris Eubank were immense. RIP, Dark Destroyer.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

A great man.I saw him speak on many occasions back in the 70's and early 80's.

My abiding memory of him will be the May Day rally at Hyde Park,when both TB and Dennis Healey,who were then running for the Deputy Leadership of the party, spoke.

It was TB who walked through the crowd afterward stopping to chat to anyone,mainly activists, who wanted to talk.DH skulked off the back of the platform after being roundly booed.

We won't see Tony Benn's like again, unfortunately.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...aged-88-labour-politiican?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

 

[Pubey]

[video=youtube;H-YYroSudUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-YYroSudUs[/video]

Very sad news, I saw him speak at an A-Level Economics event and he was simply fantastic. He inspired me and lots of my classmates to do economics degrees. I also saw him at glastonbury where he was a main-stay. What a guy. RIP Tony.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Died this morning at the grand old age of 88. A man of principle and integrity, unlike the current lot of politicians. RIP.

Yes - correct OBL - I met TB many times in the 70s and 80s - agreed with most of his views (except Europe & pipe smoking!) - as others have said a true gentleman who would talk to anyone (even me!) regardless of their views - some of these spineless gits in the Commons could take lessons from him.

Last saw him at Sidmouth Folk Festival a couple of years ago doing his two man show with Roy Bailey - hope I`m as lucid and plain speaking as TB if I make it to my eighties.


RIP Tony



PS Mrs Grumpy confirms the view of TB being a gentleman - having gone to school with some of the Benn children and visited Chez Benn many times

 

[maninasuitcase]

Benn was a man of principal, British politics will be a poorer place after his passing.

 

[dingleydangley]

At least he saw the complete discrediting of the free market farce before he went. A lovely man who makes most modern politicians look like callow chancers. A sad week.

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

I always admired politicians from any side of the spectrum, whatever they believed in and however much I disagreed, who would sit or stand and debate the issue, arguing their case, anywhere, whether it be House of Commons or in a market place. Not just in election run-ups, but any given year at any given time.

In that respect Tony Benn will be sorely missed. He was certainly a divisive character, and caused a great feeling of annoyance to many, including myself at times, but that was because he believed in what he said and had the courage of his convictions to say so.

When I was at school we held debates about nuclear disarmament. It was inspired by Tony Benn's pronouncements on the issue. Alas, we live in an age where it's acceptable that $1.5 trillion was spent on arms last year, while 1.5 million children died of starvation - a million dollars spent on bombs and weapons for each child we let die of hunger.

In many ways, Tony Benn is better off out of it.

 

[Cricko]

One of the true great statesmen. Nothing exists today to compare R.I P.

 

[Cricko]

Another millionaire socialist bites the dust. RIP the left.

Idiot..http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ele...t-worth-1m--Lib-Dems-just-wealthy-Tories.html

 

[Lord Football]

Idiot..http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ele...t-worth-1m--Lib-Dems-just-wealthy-Tories.html

Dont argue facts with him. He'll call you pompus.

 

[Cricko]

 

[steveo]

Dont argue facts with him. He'll call you pompus.

So he wasn't a millionaire then?

 

[Pubey]

So he wasn't a millionaire then?

Was he?

He probably had a decent house, but that's because he was old and has held down a good job for a long time.

 

[Cricko]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P451tKd0FOQ&feature=share

 

[steveo]

Was he?

He probably had a decent house, but that's because he was old and has held down a good job for a long time.

Apparently in failing health he sold his £3 million house to move into a 750,000 apartment. Shame really, he could have kept the house and put his old mate Scargill up for a few months.