Tony Benn.

[Archie_tect]

I have the greatest respect for Tony Benn- a man of principle and he cares about people... he really cares...



View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETqOvBKnKdk


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ_iMKSsz9E&feature=related



View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E21MdXe3BOQ



He takes a simplistic, perhaps naive, standpoint on occasion but is prepared to discuss things considerately and carefully... though in his earlier political life , in office, he was headstrong and possibly irresponsible at times.... but that comes from passion and he listened to his peers and opponents and argued his case.

Made more poignant by this comment made on Question Time by a member of the audience:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYjlP6fjFA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL978F78E686AE2A0B

 

[Archie_tect]

Sorry for posting this in Cafe... it may be more appropriate in that other place.

 

[Yellow Fang]

He's not dead, is he?

 

[Archie_tect]

No, but he's one of the senior politicians in this country who think long and hard about their commitments and views, so that what they say [usually] makes sense. Inevitably there will be times when pressed that they aren't given time to give a reasoned answer but he wasn't afraid to correct himself.

Pity party politics prevents people from saying what they believe, and sometimes know, to be true.

 

[Piemaster]

Oddly I mention him today to my wife (I forget why) that he has always been one of the most outspoken principled politicians we have, more concerned with doing what he believes to be right, rather than what he thinks the voters want.

Principles only seem to be more outspoken when the senior politicians move to the Lords and they don't have to worry about upsetting their constituency voters.

The Question Time comment is spot on.

 

[albion]

Those with convictions with a sense of good are often the ones marginalised.Funnily enough I even consider Thatcher as someone marginalised.

 

[Glow worm]

This will be of no interest to anyone but fellow radio anoraks I'm afraid, but here goes anyway! As Postmaster General during the 1960's Wilson Government, Tony Benn was rabidly anti offshore radio (Caroline, R London and the like), almost to the point of obsession. I could never really understand how or why such a generally honourable and decent man was so hell bent on destroying something the majority of the population greatly enjoyed at the time. Thanks to his efforts, the Marine Offences Act became law in 1967, and we had Radio 1 inflicted on us by Wilson and his cronies. Cheers Tony. Other than that, he's a thoroughly decent bloke.

 

[ASC1951]

Being an honest, principled and thoroughly decent bloke - and he is - doesn't alter the fact that he has been wrong about all nearly the major issues in his long political life.

 

[Danny]

Being an honest, principled and thoroughly decent bloke - and he is - doesn't alter the fact that he has been wrong about all nearly the major issues in his long political life.

He has been wrong about some specific issues, but he has been 100% right about the bigger themes - notably the importance of ensuring that those who have political and economic power are democratically accountable to the people.

 

[Red Light]

Principles only seem to be more outspoken when the senior politicians move to the Lords and they don't have to worry about upsetting their constituency voters.

Tony Benn went the other way. After 10 years as an MP he inherited his father's title of Viscount Stansgate and as a member of the House of Lords was not allowed to be an MP any more. He had a hard and ultimately successful fight to renounce his title and be allowed to stay an MP

 

[User482]

Being an honest, principled and thoroughly decent bloke - and he is - doesn't alter the fact that he has been wrong about all nearly the major issues in his long political life.

Being wrong is not the same as differing from your opinion.

 

[Piemaster]

Tony Benn went the other way. After 10 years as an MP he inherited his father's title of Viscount Stansgate and as a member of the House of Lords was not allowed to be an MP any more. He had a hard and ultimately successful fight to renounce his title and be allowed to stay an MP

Yup, he was the reason behind the act that allowed hereditary peers to renounce their title. Which he did as soon as the act was passed.

 

[Davidc]

Being an honest, principled and thoroughly decent bloke - and he is - doesn't alter the fact that he has been wrong about all nearly the major issues in his long political life.

He's actually been proved right most of the time - usually decades after his analysis.

 

[Theseus]

My Great Aunt was the first person to smack Tony.








She was a midwife and delivered him.

 

[Keith Oates]

I've heard him talking (on TV and Radio) many times and after each speech have been impressed and convinced he was correct but in almost every case, after giving it some further thought the next day, realised that he was talking complete and utter drivel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!