Tony Benn

[The Esk]

He has always been spot on.

Fantastic speech.

What a great speech - thanks Coach

 

[steken1]

He has always been spot on.

Fantastic speech.

I was genuinely moved by that. Bit daft really.

 

[atrottel]

I was genuinely moved by that. Bit daft really.

Not at all. I had the privilege to see him talking live once and he has been the only politician who ever changed my life.

When I left college, I walked straight into the miners' strike, the smashing of the remaining unions and the first national stoppage in my industry. Despite the semi-radicalism of the Sixties, many people in those days still believed in the Dixon of Dock Green view of the police. I stood on the picket line and saw what happens in real life when the powers that be feel threatened.

Following Orgreave, Hillsborough and Stephen Lawrence (to name just a few) most of you now know better.

Back in the day, Tony Benn was one of the few who called it correctly.

 

[Mrk]

A great man. A shame more labour politians today arnt like him.

Not just Labour politicians, but all politicians. Our county would be all the better for it.

He wasn't interested in what was popular, he was interested in ideas and solutions. Even when his ideas and subsequent policies were rejected by the electorate a few times, he didn't abandon them in an attempt to gain power, he stuck to them and for that he deserves admiration. Modern politicians are prepared to abandon any principle at the drop of a hat if it means them gaining more votes.

 

[Blues Harp]

Even if he might not have agreed with someones view point he always listened - he loved debating all sorts of issues and his passion for his beliefs shone through, Imagine Blair, Milliband, Cameron Clegg et al appearing at Glastonbury? I think not!! I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at a miners rally during the 84 strike and that has never left me A major figure in a sea of mediocrity (with a few exceptions) at Westminster. RIP Tony - he'll now be debating religion with the boss man

 

[Minimeister]

He has always been spot on.

Fantastic speech.

Wow. I only just realised that was about the 80's and not modern day Tory Britain.

RIP Tony

 

[Whitebootman]

Integrity is a dying trait in Westminster you feel, and I got the impression that Tony Benn had it in spades.

A truly good man, we would be a better place with more like him. RIP

 

[evilwebby]

His contempt for "New Labour" actually made me like him a lot.

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

Had so much integrity, a rare quality almost no other politicians have. The Thatcher speech was bang on the money.

 

[Clint Planet]

One of the good ones has gone. Who will speak up about careerist politicians and iniquitous profeteering now? Who will have the guts to stand up and be counted? To question it all? To point the finger with honesty, righteousness and a fair mind?

Thanks for everything, Tony.

 

[Dymak]

He was boss, I always liked him. I only became aware of him through this though:

 

[wikofootball]

great man to speak up on behalf of the powerless in society.. civil rights campaigner on behalf of the bus drivers in bristol just one of many issues he fought for..

 

[Chang Elephant]

Despite the semi-radicalism of the Sixties, many people in those days still believed in the Dixon of Dock Green view of the police. I stood on the picket line and saw what happens in real life when the powers that be feel threatened.

So very true, the corporate media barons practice ongoing propaganda against the working classes, and on the odd occasion that doesn't work and the proles step out of line, force will be used without a second thought.

 

[The Esk]

I stood outside St Margaret's Church at his funeral today, Rest In Peace - a Champion of the needy, poor and defenseless.

 

[Walken]

I stood outside St Margaret's Church at his funeral today, Rest In Peace - a Champion of the needy, poor and defenseless.

good stuff mate, got some of his memoirs, a man of conviction and fairness