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Tony Benn: The man who made me interested in politics Tony Benn: The man who made me interested in politics
(about 3 hours later)
"I'm harmless now"."I'm harmless now".
That's how Tony Benn summed up his own transformation from the man many in the Labour Party blamed for making them unelectable to the nation's political grandfather - whose stories and speeches mesmerised those who listened to him even when they scarcely agreed with a word he said.That's how Tony Benn summed up his own transformation from the man many in the Labour Party blamed for making them unelectable to the nation's political grandfather - whose stories and speeches mesmerised those who listened to him even when they scarcely agreed with a word he said.
Tony Benn joked that unlike many radicals he'd become more left wing as he'd grown older. Harold Wilson quipped that Benn had "immatured with age".Tony Benn joked that unlike many radicals he'd become more left wing as he'd grown older. Harold Wilson quipped that Benn had "immatured with age".
He began his political career as the slick, presentable TV face of Labour in the 1960s but ended it by campaigning against pretty much all that New Labour stood for.He began his political career as the slick, presentable TV face of Labour in the 1960s but ended it by campaigning against pretty much all that New Labour stood for.
He started with a court case to allow him to become an MP - he had to renounce his hereditary peerage to do so - only years later to leave parliament so, he quipped, he could spend more time on politics.He started with a court case to allow him to become an MP - he had to renounce his hereditary peerage to do so - only years later to leave parliament so, he quipped, he could spend more time on politics.
The seeds of that transformation were sown in the 1970s in the battles fought within Harold Wilson's Labour government.The seeds of that transformation were sown in the 1970s in the battles fought within Harold Wilson's Labour government.
One in particular was to shape the future of British politics for years to come. It was over Europe or the Common Market as it was known then.One in particular was to shape the future of British politics for years to come. It was over Europe or the Common Market as it was known then.
European battlesEuropean battles
Benn believed Europe robbed ministers of the power to do anything very much. He had become disillusioned with Labour's failure to change society complaining later that it had, instead, changes people to make them accept society as it was.Benn believed Europe robbed ministers of the power to do anything very much. He had become disillusioned with Labour's failure to change society complaining later that it had, instead, changes people to make them accept society as it was.
When Wilson agreed to a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Economic Community he allowed his ministers to take opposing sides.When Wilson agreed to a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Economic Community he allowed his ministers to take opposing sides.
Benn led the antis. His Cabinet rival Roy Jenkins led the pros. The two men debated head to head in the BBC Panorama studio.Benn led the antis. His Cabinet rival Roy Jenkins led the pros. The two men debated head to head in the BBC Panorama studio.
Within a few years the Labour party had split allowing the Conservatives - first under Margaret Thatcher and then John Major - to win four elections in a row and to govern for 18 years.Within a few years the Labour party had split allowing the Conservatives - first under Margaret Thatcher and then John Major - to win four elections in a row and to govern for 18 years.
Benn blamed the "traitors" led by Jenkins who abandoned Labour and created the new SDP - the fore-runner of today's Lib Dems.Benn blamed the "traitors" led by Jenkins who abandoned Labour and created the new SDP - the fore-runner of today's Lib Dems.
Jenkins and his acolytes blamed Benn who'd led a popular revolt in his party crusading successfully for a party whose manifesto pledged to take the UK out of Europe and NATO, to give up nuclear weapons and to nationalise major industries.Jenkins and his acolytes blamed Benn who'd led a popular revolt in his party crusading successfully for a party whose manifesto pledged to take the UK out of Europe and NATO, to give up nuclear weapons and to nationalise major industries.
It was to become known as "the longest suicide note in history".It was to become known as "the longest suicide note in history".
RepudiationRepudiation
Tony Blair's New Labour was, in essence, a complete repudiation of Benn-ery. It led Tony Benn out of parliament and onto the streets to campaign for socialism. As he was seen less on our TV screens he was seen more at protests, rallies and campaign meetings.Tony Blair's New Labour was, in essence, a complete repudiation of Benn-ery. It led Tony Benn out of parliament and onto the streets to campaign for socialism. As he was seen less on our TV screens he was seen more at protests, rallies and campaign meetings.
To many he was a voice of inspiration, with his warnings against globalisation, corporate power and American adventurism.To many he was a voice of inspiration, with his warnings against globalisation, corporate power and American adventurism.
His ability to draw deeply from British history - whether the Levellers or the suffragettes - and to range widely - from the global politics of the Arab street to that of your local estate - made him a far bigger figure than the adviser turned politician PR-schooled technocrats who followed him.His ability to draw deeply from British history - whether the Levellers or the suffragettes - and to range widely - from the global politics of the Arab street to that of your local estate - made him a far bigger figure than the adviser turned politician PR-schooled technocrats who followed him.
It is, though, not for any of this that I suspect he will be remembered in a hundred years time. It is his eight volumes of diaries - a chronicle of post war British political life that will mean that he is never forgotten.It is, though, not for any of this that I suspect he will be remembered in a hundred years time. It is his eight volumes of diaries - a chronicle of post war British political life that will mean that he is never forgotten.
When I visited his house I saw the museum of recording technology that made that possible - from the earliest BBC apple computer to an eight track twin reel recorder.When I visited his house I saw the museum of recording technology that made that possible - from the earliest BBC apple computer to an eight track twin reel recorder.
All still necessary to access the words and the sounds that Tony Benn recorded each and every day.All still necessary to access the words and the sounds that Tony Benn recorded each and every day.
Personality politicsPersonality politics
The first political book I was ever given was Tony Benn's "Arguments for socialism".The first political book I was ever given was Tony Benn's "Arguments for socialism".
I had the privilege to interview him, to be interviewed by him - for a programme on the power of the media - and to be teased by him. "You're an embedded journalist now" he told me during the Iraq War.I had the privilege to interview him, to be interviewed by him - for a programme on the power of the media - and to be teased by him. "You're an embedded journalist now" he told me during the Iraq War.
On every occasion I met him he was forceful and stimulating and charming.On every occasion I met him he was forceful and stimulating and charming.
Tony Benn always insisted that politics was about issues not personalities (or ishoos not pershunalities as it sounded from his lips).Tony Benn always insisted that politics was about issues not personalities (or ishoos not pershunalities as it sounded from his lips).
The irony is that the man who meant that sincerely was, himself, one of the biggest political personalities this country has ever seen.The irony is that the man who meant that sincerely was, himself, one of the biggest political personalities this country has ever seen.
PS. Thank you for sharing your pictures of Tony Benn during some of his many appearances at marches, demonstrations and political meetings. Here is a selection.