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Bedfellows and foes unite at Tony Benn's funeral Bedfellows and foes unite at Tony Benn's funeral
(35 minutes later)
The scene outside St Margaret's church in Westminster at Tony Benn's funeral was, rather appropriately, like an impromptu demonstration: trade union, Labour party and peace banners fluttered in the breeze.The scene outside St Margaret's church in Westminster at Tony Benn's funeral was, rather appropriately, like an impromptu demonstration: trade union, Labour party and peace banners fluttered in the breeze.
In the crowd was 30-year-old activist Ian Chamberlain, holding a banner belonging to the Stop the War Coalition, a cause Benn championed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Tony Benn was president of the coalition, and he was an inspirational leader of the anti-war movement, always on the streets with us whether it be over war in Iraq or Afghanistan. We want to make sure his political legacy continues long after his death," he said, reflecting the mood among those gathered.In the crowd was 30-year-old activist Ian Chamberlain, holding a banner belonging to the Stop the War Coalition, a cause Benn championed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Tony Benn was president of the coalition, and he was an inspirational leader of the anti-war movement, always on the streets with us whether it be over war in Iraq or Afghanistan. We want to make sure his political legacy continues long after his death," he said, reflecting the mood among those gathered.
Older activists who followed Benn's long political career were there, too. "I'm here because I think there was hardly anybody else in contemporary life who could put ideas of socialism in as accessible a way as Tony Benn," said 60-year-old veteran Chris Stratham.Older activists who followed Benn's long political career were there, too. "I'm here because I think there was hardly anybody else in contemporary life who could put ideas of socialism in as accessible a way as Tony Benn," said 60-year-old veteran Chris Stratham.
Other younger activists expressed a determination to follow Benn's example. "Tony Benn is what lefties should be and what they hopefully will be like in the future," said 27-year-old American Kerry Lambeth.Other younger activists expressed a determination to follow Benn's example. "Tony Benn is what lefties should be and what they hopefully will be like in the future," said 27-year-old American Kerry Lambeth.
The leading lights of the labour movement was there in full force, including Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, and the Unison leader, Dave Prentis, as was Arthur Scargill, whom Benn campaigned alongside during the bitter 1984/85 miners' strike. Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams paid homage to a man who had long advocated Irish unity, as well as calling for peace talks when it was controversial to do so. Much of Labour's shadow cabinet was there, as well as Benn's closer political bedfellows, including leading leftwing backbenchers Diane Abbott and John McDonnell. But Tories including Lord Heseltine and Andrew Mitchell were among the mourners, too, indicative of the respect that Benn's sense of conviction won him across the political divide. The leading lights of the labour movement were there in full force, including Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, and the Unison leader, Dave Prentis, as was Arthur Scargill, whom Benn campaigned alongside during the bitter 1984/85 miners' strike. Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams paid homage to a man who had long advocated Irish unity, as well as calling for peace talks when it was controversial to do so. Much of Labour's shadow cabinet was there, as well as Benn's closer political bedfellows, including leading leftwing backbenchers Diane Abbott and John McDonnell. But Tories including Lord Heseltine and Andrew Mitchell were among the mourners, too, indicative of the respect that Benn's sense of conviction won him across the political divide.
Inside the church the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, celebrated the religious roots of Benn's socialism, pointing to how he had "drifted away from religion, but not from Christian principles". He provoked the first ripple of laughter when recalling how, when asked about his religious convictions, Benn had replied he was a "lapsed atheist". He then repeated the words of Benn's favourite hymn, which hung in his parliamentary office and summed up his whole approach to politics: "Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known."Inside the church the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, celebrated the religious roots of Benn's socialism, pointing to how he had "drifted away from religion, but not from Christian principles". He provoked the first ripple of laughter when recalling how, when asked about his religious convictions, Benn had replied he was a "lapsed atheist". He then repeated the words of Benn's favourite hymn, which hung in his parliamentary office and summed up his whole approach to politics: "Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known."
The Speaker, John Bercow, delivered a passage from First Corinthians 13, ending with the solemn words: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." A passage from John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress was read by Ed Miliband – who began his political career working in Benn's office at the age of 16.The Speaker, John Bercow, delivered a passage from First Corinthians 13, ending with the solemn words: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." A passage from John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress was read by Ed Miliband – who began his political career working in Benn's office at the age of 16.
Benn's younger brother, David, recalled their "very political upbringing", and how Tony Benn had been "radicalised by public school, which he loathed". His experiences in the second world war as an RAF pilot in South Rhodesia, where he was outraged by the treatment of black Africans, turned him into a lifelong "anti-racist and anti-colonialist", his brother suggested.Benn's younger brother, David, recalled their "very political upbringing", and how Tony Benn had been "radicalised by public school, which he loathed". His experiences in the second world war as an RAF pilot in South Rhodesia, where he was outraged by the treatment of black Africans, turned him into a lifelong "anti-racist and anti-colonialist", his brother suggested.
Hilary Benn, a shadow cabinet minister whose 2007 bid for Labour's deputy leadership was backed by his father, spoke of how Tony had taught them all "to question everyone and everything", and that "ideas and movements have a power to change the world. He taught us that a better world is possible."Hilary Benn, a shadow cabinet minister whose 2007 bid for Labour's deputy leadership was backed by his father, spoke of how Tony had taught them all "to question everyone and everything", and that "ideas and movements have a power to change the world. He taught us that a better world is possible."
Benn's daughter Melissa remembered him prank-calling the late Labour cabinet minister Tony Crosland by pretending to be a constituent. Argument was his lifeblood, she added, recalling how trips to Boots could be prolonged by discussions with a "sometimes bemused pharmacist" about anti-colonial struggle. In his last years, he would travel the country going from meeting to meeting, subsisting on a cheese sandwich and lots of bananas. "He ate so many bananas that he was hospitalised with suspected potassium poisoning," she said to raucous laughter.Another son, Stephen Benn, recalled how Tony Benn stood firm against his vilification in the 1980s, telling his children "to never wrestle with a chimney sweep".Benn's daughter Melissa remembered him prank-calling the late Labour cabinet minister Tony Crosland by pretending to be a constituent. Argument was his lifeblood, she added, recalling how trips to Boots could be prolonged by discussions with a "sometimes bemused pharmacist" about anti-colonial struggle. In his last years, he would travel the country going from meeting to meeting, subsisting on a cheese sandwich and lots of bananas. "He ate so many bananas that he was hospitalised with suspected potassium poisoning," she said to raucous laughter.Another son, Stephen Benn, recalled how Tony Benn stood firm against his vilification in the 1980s, telling his children "to never wrestle with a chimney sweep".
Movingly, Stephen told the congregation of how all the children were with him when he died, and that the last words he heard was them telling him how much they loved him. In accordance with Tony Benn's wishes, "He encouraged us" will be inscribed as his epitaph. "Well, Dad, you did encourage us and you did inspire us," he said, leaving many mourners in tears. "And your encouragement and your inspiration, both for us and for others, will never end."Movingly, Stephen told the congregation of how all the children were with him when he died, and that the last words he heard was them telling him how much they loved him. In accordance with Tony Benn's wishes, "He encouraged us" will be inscribed as his epitaph. "Well, Dad, you did encourage us and you did inspire us," he said, leaving many mourners in tears. "And your encouragement and your inspiration, both for us and for others, will never end."
At the end, the church erupted into spontaneous applause as the coffin was lifted through, and a defiant rendition of The Red Flag was sung. In a rare show of unity, leading Labour politicians, radical trade unionists and anti-war campaigners milled together in the courtyard. It would have met with Benn's approval. "Tony was a person who united people in the progressive movement," 76-year-old peace campaigner Isabel McMillan said. "We have so many splits, but he could work with anyone. He had no side to him. He was just a lovely man."At the end, the church erupted into spontaneous applause as the coffin was lifted through, and a defiant rendition of The Red Flag was sung. In a rare show of unity, leading Labour politicians, radical trade unionists and anti-war campaigners milled together in the courtyard. It would have met with Benn's approval. "Tony was a person who united people in the progressive movement," 76-year-old peace campaigner Isabel McMillan said. "We have so many splits, but he could work with anyone. He had no side to him. He was just a lovely man."