Tony Benn

[neilloggie]

He may have all the patter and be a jolly decent bloke,but at the end of the day he is just another over privileged career politician who had everything handed to him on a plate and his route to politics bears a very striking resemblance to today's Tory cabinet.

Screaming Lord Sutch put on a far better election campaign in Chesterfield in 1984 ,after all he wanted to turn the whole country in to a fun park and create 8 million jobs and still only received about 150 votes.

[arcade fireman]

He may have all the patter and be a jolly decent bloke,but at the end of the day he is just another over privileged career politician who had everything handed to him on a plate and his route to politics bears a very striking resemblance to today's Tory cabinet.

Screaming Lord Sutch put on a far better election campaign in Chesterfield in 1984 ,after all he wanted to turn the whole country in to a fun park and create 8 million jobs and still only received about 150 votes.

[Guest]

Hope to see him at the Tolpuddle Festival on Sunday

[5co77ie]

Just realised I missed him - that must be the first time in a decade.

[jameshunt]

He may have all the patter and be a jolly decent bloke,but at the end of the day he is just another over privileged career politician who had everything handed to him on a plate and his route to politics bears a very striking resemblance to today's Tory cabinet.

Screaming Lord Sutch put on a far better election campaign in Chesterfield in 1984 ,after all he wanted to turn the whole country in to a fun park and create 8 million jobs and still only received about 150 votes.

[amfy]

I went to see him this time. It did remind me that people used to go into politics because they held a strong set of beliefs. Now I feel it is just another career, and politicians will believe whatever will best help their career.

[amfy]

Also - quite an odd crowd at Speakers Forum - They actually applauded the woman who exhorted us to ' stop eating biscuits!'

Stop eating biscuits? That's crazy talk!

[jameshunt]

A few photos of Tony Benn, Speakers Forum, Glastonbury Festival 2013:

Tony Benn, Speakers Forum, Glastonbury Festival 2013 by David, on ipernity

Tony Benn, Speakers Forum, Glastonbury Festival 2013 by David, on ipernity

Tony Benn, Speakers Forum, Glastonbury Festival 2013 par David, on ipernity

An album of those, a few more and some from 2009 & 2011 here

[russycarps]

Wow! Over-privileged career politician? Tony Benn? Seriously?

He was born into privilege (not his choice) and had to fight to get rid of that privilege so that he could run for Parliament. He had to get the law changed so that he could renounce his hereditary title!

A little research before denouncing a man of principle might have been a good idea.

--

Agree with others who saw him this time around and I have to say that this may have been his last Glastonbury. Very frail compared with even two years ago when he also forgot his hearing aid. Seems to have a touch of Parkinsons and a nasty chest cough. His mind still works well though and he's still a legend, but I can't help but think he won't be around much longer.

[Glastoboy]

This country is crying out for more people with the intellect, compassion and moral fibre of Tony Benn to enter politics - now more than ever. I implore anyone who hasn't done so to read his diaries. Failing that, watch him in action on Youtube or even just Google his name and see what you find. (Although our trivial modern world being what it is, I guess his ungraceful interview with Ali G will be somewhere near the top of a Google search).

Though undoubtedly some would disagree, I believe Tony Benn and John Smith would both have been potentially great leaders for our country and we are in a worse state today because neither were.

[jameshunt]

Well said mate

[Alcatraz]

Also - quite an odd crowd at Speakers Forum - They actually applauded the woman who exhorted us to ' stop eating biscuits!'

Stop eating biscuits? That's crazy talk!

Edited July 17, 2013 by Alcatraz

[dingbat2]

Physically he is getting on a bit, his walking, his hearing, all showing his age

But his intellectual sharpness, fuck me, if I am even half that sharp nearing my nineties then I will be well chuffed. Ad clarity of thought and expression. I don't have that sharpness now at less than half his age!

Much credit to his granddaughter (was it?) for being there to give him support with the walking and hearing by the way

Still a legend

[jameshunt]

...

Much credit to his granddaughter (was it?) for being there to give him support with the walking and hearing by the way

...

[hallamboy]

Wedgie...what a legend. A true political inspiration.

I'm worried like the rest of you that we may not get many more chances to see him. He really did look frail.

We are lucky to have had the chance/chances to hear a man like him speak.

He is as relevant now as he ever was. This sounds like he could have said this in 2013.

[Teddington]

Behind the jovial "Upper class guy and a man of the people" image, he was a manipulating, self obsessed, ruthless bugger who was determined to get into power.

[Guest]

Behind the jovial "Upper class guy and a man of the people" image, he was a manipulating, self obsessed, ruthless bugger who was determined to get into power.

[Teddington]

Like every other politican then you might say - except he's never wavered from his views. I'd much rather he was with me than against me, unlike a lot of other politicians from all sides of the House.

[russycarps]

Behind the jovial "Upper class guy and a man of the people" image, he was a manipulating, self obsessed, ruthless bugger who was determined to get into power.

[gibbin82]

Behind the jovial "Upper class guy and a man of the people" image, he was a manipulating, self obsessed, ruthless bugger who was determined to get into power.

[Ponyegg]

Manipulating? Self obsessed? Ruthless? Determined to get into power? Instead of throwing out cheap sound bites please elaborate on the basis for your argument and give some examples of how his actions have led you to this opinion. (I will love to hear how you think a frail 88 year old man who is no longer an MP, but still finds the time and energy to talk about his socialist beliefs is "determined to get into power")

[Pinhead]

More deserving of a State Funeral than Thatcher I think....

[Teddington]

Oh dear............

Not my words but those of Jack Straw, that famous raging right winger...........

On Tony Benn

“My vote for Tony Benn was really out of cowardice. I was ashamed of it. I still am. Benn was ruthless. I know there’s this upper-middle class veneer – utterly ruthless in pursuit of his own ambition.”

I believe the phrase is "owned".

[fur_q]

Oh dear............

Not my words but those of Jack Straw, that famous raging right winger...........

On Tony Benn

My vote for Tony Benn was really out of cowardice. I was ashamed of it. I still am. Benn was ruthless. I know theres this upper-middle class veneer utterly ruthless in pursuit of his own ambition.

I believe the phrase is "owned".

[Teddington]

Not really, It's always puzzled me why Jack Straw ever a member of the Labour Party, he certainly never came across as particularly left wing.