thomsons dropped it Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Just announced that Tony Benn has died,88 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2becks Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 RIP the last English socialist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintnextlifetime Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Thomsons dropped it. . actually Tony's dropped it. . He was always worth a listen and he used to make Hague look daft on those chat shows they had. . Edited by Tom for language Edited March 14, 2014 by saintnextlifetime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 A rarity in Westminster, a truly principled politician. R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 A big influence on me. A hugely articulate politician who always struck me as far more compelling that the vast majority of his counterparts. There was also a quiet humour and warmth in his manner. A big loss to the British political scene. There are very few with his level of integrity left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qarsaan Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 A very nice obit from the BBC, for a very decent human being. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-18686794 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Hughes in BlueSuedeShoes Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 He may have been getting on a bit in years but it’s still sad news. As fine & principled a politician as you could find in Westminster. Here’s hoping he inspired a few to follow suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pozbaird Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 One of the heavyweights, the big hitters, of the British political scene. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluto Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 My only qualification about wholeheartedly admiring him, is: he was always teetotal. How could that be? A decent person who doesn't imbibe even a little? The arse will have fallen out of shares in tea companies, today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSS Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) A fine man who came from a very well to do family but was still a man of the people. His Mother came from Paisley,she was part of the Eadie Engineering family.Benn Ave in Seedhill was named after Tony!!! Also made a very famous speech at Paisley Uni after receiving an honorary doctorate. Edited March 14, 2014 by HSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Top notch politician. RIP Mr Benn. There was a Tony B that followed him into politics. Sadly they only shared the same initials and none of the principles. Has any one read any of his books? Read some of his diaries when I was younger. As a child of the Thatcher era, Benn was a beacon of light for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pozbaird Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 He was still making speeches until late in life. Did he express a view on Scottish independence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluto Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 He was still making speeches until late in life. Did he express a view on Scottish independence? Aye. I think I saw something in the Financial Times. : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintnextlifetime Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 In 2006 Tony Benn said, "The Labour Party has never been a socialist party, but it's always had socialists in it, just as there are some Christians in the church." . .seems pretty accurate to me. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintnextlifetime Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 He was still making speeches until late in life. Did he express a view on Scottish independence? Indeed. . http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-tony-benn-uk-split-would-divide-me-with-a-knife-1-2475596 I also believe that when he was in the cabinet , that he was accused of lying about Scottish Oil Wealth. .but alas , l can't find the quote for that one. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pozbaird Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Benn's thoughts on independence are fair enough and are obviously formed through his personal life and family situation. Everyone has an opinion, he was entitled to his. Has Bono or Annie Lennox spoken yet? In the name of fcuk, no-one answer that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) He was still making speeches until late in life. Did he express a view on Scottish independence? I suspect he was very much in the Tam Dalyell camp in not supporting Scottish indepedence. That doesn't detract one iota from the regard in which I hold the man. I'm sure he could have presented a far more compelling argument in support of the union than some others who shall remain nameless. Edited March 14, 2014 by Drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintnextlifetime Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Benn's thoughts on independence are fair enough and are obviously formed through his personal life and family situation. Everyone has an opinion, he was entitled to his. Has Bono or Annie Lennox spoken yet? In the name of fcuk, no-one answer that! This relates to the issue that Tony Benn was involved in by I canny find what Tony actually said on the matter. . http://wingsoverscotland.com/lies-then-and-lies-now/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 There goes the last honest politician. Enjoy your new life Tony and give that Maggie what for - she has had it too easy on the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) There goes the last honest politician I would still give a shout for the Beast of Bolsover, Dennis Skinner, but that's about it, sadly. ETA: Some classic Skinner here.... http://www.hazemagazine.co.uk/the-best-dennis-skinner-quotes Edited March 14, 2014 by Drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salmonbuddie Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 At the risk of repeating myself, what I said about Bob Crow the other day is also true for Tony Benn - a few more like them and we wouldn't need a referendum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 At the risk of repeating myself, what I said about Bob Crow the other day is also true for Tony Benn - a few more like them and we wouldn't need a referendum. That's a decent point. My reasoning for voting in favour of independence is that I have absolutely no confidence that, under current constitutional arrangements, and the prevailing political climate whereby established elites based in Westminster overwhelming hold the balance of power, there will be the change I would like to see. It is a shame, if no great surprise, that it has come to this, but we have an opportunity to shift that balance of power, at least inasmuch as how it impacts on Scotland, and I am not for passing this up. I suspect Tony Benn would have argued strenuously against my position, but would have reluctantly conceded that the premise is sound in many respects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyond our ken Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 There goes the last honest politician. Enjoy your new life Tony and give that Maggie what for - she has had it too easy on the other side. 1. There are no honest politicians, 2. if he was such a politician then he wont be anywhere near thatcher. he certainly had the courage of his convictions but like any politician I am sure that he subscribed to the "end justifies the means" philosophy. The problem with all politicians is that they all thnk they know what is best for the rest of us and even if their politics is tempered by some early humane or social values, these are all diluted as they engage in the wheeling and dealing that is needed to get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bud77 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 1. There are no honest politicians, 2. if he was such a politician then he wont be anywhere near thatcher. he certainly had the courage of his convictions but like any politician I am sure that he subscribed to the "end justifies the means" philosophy. The problem with all politicians is that they all thnk they know what is best for the rest of us and even if their politics is tempered by some early humane or social values, these are all diluted as they engage in the wheeling and dealing that is needed to get on. Some politicians are more honest than others. Tony Benn could have taken the easy route into politics and used his title to sit in the House of Lords, instead he renounced his title so he could sit in the house of commons. All in all a very principled person unlike a lot of the ready made politicians we see today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluto Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 I suspect Tony Benn would have argued strenuously against my position, but would have reluctantly conceded that the premise is sound in many respects. I suspect he would have conceded nothing of the sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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