Dead at 88.

One of the only significant British left wing parliamentarians in the last 50 years and possibly my favourite politician of all time. Doubt any Americans will have heard of him but whatever, deserves a thread IMO.

Meant to post this is the main politics forum. Will somebody please move it?

RIP

great, great speech... RIP.

'Muricans haven't had a guy speak hard truths on the Hill like that since, I dunno 2002?

Yes. I hope I did it right.

RIP

Was a great well respected politician, it was pretty sad to hear about his death earlier today. They dont make many politicians like Tony Benn.

For the septics who might be reading, this is a guy who through circumstance not choice ended up becoming an MP and through circumstance inherited a Viscount peerage and tried to renounce it but wasnt allowed to at the time. Despite being a really excellent politician for basically his entire life he never sought the position or tried to reach farther than he thought was right, becoming a key figure in the Stop the War Coalition after "leaving parliament in order to spend more time on politics".

He wasnt a perfect politician, he was a full on socialist, he supported the miners strike and Arthur Scumgill and he didnt want Britain to defend the British Falkland Islands. But he was still respected by anyone with sense.

Searching wikileaks for "tony benn" found 68 results.
Plusd, Kissinger Cables

https://search.wikileaks.org/?q=%22tony+benn%22

I wonder why he did not ask Saddam this when they met. However, he did mention Iraq's oil resources and how they could be used for the betterment of the people of that country.

Tony Benn was a fantastic individual. He was a failed Politician because he was a much better prophet. He cared so much for the people which made him not realise/ignore the flaws. This made him naive. This also says more about the selfishness of humanity rather than about him.

RIP.

Interesting fellow. I'm glad I got an opportunity to get to know about him.

What a boss. Makes Elizabeth Warren look like Paul Ryan. RIP.

Huge respect for Tony Benn. Disagreed with much of what he said, but never doubted his sincerity or integrity. A sad loss for British politics and the country as a whole. RIP.

Its rarity to see a politician that actually believed in something and had the courage to speak out for what he believed in.
A true gentleman.


RIP

He definitely believes what he's saying and I respect that. But having had to work with union people before I'm not sad that there's one less socialist in the world.

Amazing video in the OP.

Wish I had heard of this guy earlier.

I can imagine working with trade unionists would lead to premature ageing. The world is a poorer place for not having Tony Benn in it though.

the only politics show iv'e ever recorded on my DVR is Question Time in the House of Commons (i'm American) and he must have asked the most acerbic questions in opposition to Thatcher.