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BBC News - Tony Benn seriously ill in hospital

I hope nobody will turn my observation into a fight but, as far as moral leadership in a historical context goes, I reckon Tony Benn pips Nelson Mandela. He is a great man and I hope he pulls through.

Some years ago my son travelled down to London along with thousands of other bikers, in order to try to persuade Europe to forget about bringing in new laws about compulsory leg shields, compulsory hi-viz outer jackets and maximum 100 bhp. Tony Benn personally showed thousands of bikers into the Great Hall in the Houses of Parliament, where there were rows and rows of seats - no bikers had to stand. There were two MEPs present, available to answer questions etc. During the proceedings Tony Benn said that at the end of the day, if it was felt that bikers were not being listened to - "then you RIOT !" This has stuck in my son's memory, and his admiration and respect for Mr.Tony Benn were increased tremedously. Those particular rulings were never brought in.

Yes, Mr. Benn, one of the few sincere and honest politicians, please get well, there are three people here who are thinking about you and keeping everything crossed for you !

This country is a far less a place without the likes of Tony Benn. An honourable man with true principles. A politician who entered politics for entirely the right and proper reasons. Where are the likes of him nowadays ?

One of my heroes too.

Apart from his shoddy treatment of Norton in the Meridian Co-operative débâcle I'd agree with the comments above - maybe his help to the bikers in Gill's post was his attempt to make good.

I attended one of the shows he put on with Roy Bailey a few years ago and he's the best raconteur I've come across - a brilliant show not to be missed if you get the chance.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

Where is oscar to disagree? :wah:

I expect she's lashed herself down, having donned a heavy duty rain coat and tied a sou'wester over her head, busy feeding foxes that are wearing inflatable water wings around their bodies ! :wah:

G#Gill;1447973 wrote: I expect she's lashed herself down


I'm free, Mrs Slocombe, if anyone needs a hand.

AnneBoleyn;1447968 wrote: Where is oscar to disagree? :wah: I'm here. Just struggling to find anything good to say, hence my absence from this thread.

Departed this life yesterday, at home. As Peter Hain is quoted as saying, "wonderful inspirational speaker and person: will be deeply missed".

BBC News - Labour stalwart Tony Benn dies at 88

Reaction to Tony Benn's death

Obituary: Tony Benn

Tony Benn: 'I'm not afraid of dying'

Tony Benn RIP.

Somewhere on the Interweb this morning I found this perplexing comment. I'll not link to it.Jane Thompson, a Sun reader from Stevenage, said: "He was so dangerous.

"The way he never hounded anybody or hacked a phone. Or the way he opposed rather than encouraged racism and homophobia.

"He was basically a rabid wolf let loose in a shopping centre."

It was ironic humour.......same website comments include.......

DESPITE overwhelming evidence that it just isn't for them, England are still persisting with cricket.

ANYONE who runs a large business or organisation is obviously incredible, experts have confirmed.

MINIMUM wage earners have blasted their pay rise of 19p an hour as inadequate recompense for losing their multi-million pound bonuses.

You must take context into account......

RIP Tony Benn

I'm not sure there are any Tony Benns about nowadays. Politics is missing a Tony Benn now that Tony Benn has passed

Snowfire;1450159 wrote: I'm not sure there are any Tony Benns about nowadays. Politics is missing a Tony Benn now that Tony Benn has passed


We've been missing a Wedgie Benn since Robin Cook died.

Don't know too much about him but Jeremy Corbyn comes to mind.

Jeremy Corbyn has been around quite a while and is probably cut from the same cloth politically but I'm not sure if he's quite of the same caliber. When Tony Benn ever had something to say, everyone listened. Jeremy Corbyn and generally many of those on the left, aren't as prominent as maybe they should be. The old school are dying off. I can't see any obvious replacements

He manages to come out of this with a lot of dignity and good humour.

He was one of the wartime socialists who were in politics because they wanted to make things better for people. Nowadays politicians are in at for a career not idealism.

gmc;1450203 wrote: He was one of the wartime socialists who were in politics because they wanted to make things better for people. Nowadays politicians are in at for a career not idealism.


Sir Anthony Wedgwood Benn, 2nd Viscount Stansgate - he was there because he believed and he had to disavow his title in order to stand for parliament.

Bryn Mawr;1450205 wrote: Sir Anthony Wedgwood Benn, 2nd Viscount Stansgate - he was there because he believed and he had to disavow his title in order to stand for parliament.


He changed the law didn't he Bryn to stand for Parliament?

As It happens, I liked him and believe he's a loss to politics although I'm struggling to find any great achievements..

I think It's true that we just don't have politicians of his Ilk any more and I agree with gmc that they are looking more at careers these days than doing the right thing. What we lose as and when politicians like Benn pass, Is passion and I don't think we see too much of that these days.

I remember being very Impressed with another passionate politician of by-gone days when I was very young at college. He gave us a three hour speech and was very entertaining... Michael Foot.

oscar;1450220 wrote: He changed the law didn't he Bryn to stand for Parliament?

As It happens, I liked him and believe he's a loss to politics although I'm struggling to find any great achievements..

I think It's true that we just don't have politicians of his Ilk any more and I agree with gmc that they are looking more at careers these days than doing the right thing. What we lose as and when politicians like Benn pass, Is passion and I don't think we see too much of that these days.

I remember being very Impressed with another passionate politician of by-gone days when I was very young at college. He gave us a three hour speech and was very entertaining... Michael Foot.


He was energy secretary when north sea opil came on stream, rather than fall for the line that we shoudn't tax it in case it put off investors he had the sense to realise that if they wanted it companies will pay the tax. I mention that becauise we still get the same crap argument put forward - don't tax companies like amazon and google in case they leave the most profitable market they have and we l;ose the pow paid unskilled jobs they provide etc etc. Who rules britain i say not tjhe big companies.

Tony Benn's Most Eloquent Verbal Assaults (VIDEO)

oscar;1450220 wrote: As It happens, I liked him and believe he's a loss to politics although I'm struggling to find any great achievements..




He was to some extent his own worse enemy, in that he failed to 'use' the system.

He was too idealist to bend his methods to acquire the things he thought were right by any means.

Strange as it might sound his achievements are the same as all the other so called marginal politicians ie George Galloway, Nick Griffin,Nigel Farage, although he was in a different league. They chivvy away so making those in power uncomfortable and adapt their policies to reflect the public feeling.

Well worth a wider showing......Tony Benn's ideals.......

Well if that doesn't deserve a round of applause, I don't know what does

RIP Tony Benn, and the video gets three rounds of applause from me.

That told they - both barrels at once, straight between the eyes :wah:

A pal alerted me to this tonight... The first time I had seen It....

Tony Benn to BBC "If you wont broadcast the Gaza appeal then I will myself" - YouTube

Good old Tony Benn. He may be notoriously extremist, and even if you don't agree with anything he says, you have to respect his passion & conviction for sticking to his beliefs. He has never been one to pander to the masses & has always spoken as he sees it.