LABOUR was yesterday in mourning for one of its titans — after Tony Benn died
aged 88.
The former cabinet minister who served as an MP for more than 50 years died at
his home in West London surrounded by family.
In a statement his children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua said: “It is
with great sadness that we announce that our father Tony Benn died
peacefully early this morning at his home in West London surrounded by his
family.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff and carers
who have looked after him with such kindness in hospital and at home.
“We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives.
But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and
so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world
for the better.
“Arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course.”
Tributes poured in from all sides of politics, with Labour leader Ed Miliband
describing Mr Benn as an “iconic figure” who was a “champion of the
powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician”.
Mr Miliband added: “Tony Benn spoke his mind and spoke up for his values.
“Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone knew where
he stood and what he stood for.
“He believed in movements and mobilised people behind him for the causes he
cared about, often unfashionable ones. In a world of politics that is often
too small, he thought big about our country and our world.
“Above all, as I had cause to know, he was an incredibly kind man. I did work
experience with him at the age of 16. I may have been just a teenager but he
treated me as an equal. It was the nature of the man and the principle of
his politics.”
David Cameron said Mr Benn made sure there was “never a dull moment”.
The Prime Minister added: “I am sorry to hear that Tony Benn has died. He was
a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner, with a strong record
of public and political service.
“There was never a dull moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with
every word he said.”
First elected to parliament in 1950, renounced becoming a viscount on his
father’s death. It required a change in the law but meant he could remain in
the House of Commons and was an MP for more than 50 years.
Anthony Wedgwood Benn, who as minister for technology in the 1960s got
Concorde built, was often a thorn in his own party’s side.
He served in the cabinets of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan and staged a
bitter battle with Denis Healey for the Labour deputy leadership as the
champion of the left in 1981.
He retired from parliament in 2001 saying he wanted to “spend more time on
politics” and won a new status as a national treasure touring the country to
speak to packed audiences in venues from town halls to West End theatres and
the Glastonbury festival.
Former PM Gordon Brown said: “Tony Benn was a powerful, fearless, relentless
advocate for social justice and people’s rights whose writing as well as
speeches will continue to have a profound influence on generations to come.
“My thoughts are with his family, whom he adored.”
In one of his final interviews recorded weeks before his death, Mr Benn
admitted he had enjoyed life “enormously”.
He told Radio 4’s Today show that he had “made every mistake in the book” but
that he had done what he believed.
Mr Benn said: “I think it has been a very satisfying life, I’ve enjoyed it
enormously.
“I made every mistake in the book but making mistakes is how you learn. I
think the thing I would be ashamed of is if I’d said anything I didn’t
believe in order to get on personally.”
Mr Benn also spoke about his famous statement as he quit public life. He
recalled: “My wife said to me when I left Parliament, ‘Why don’t you say
you’re leaving Parliament to devote more time to politics.’ People laughed
but that was a very profound statement.
“If you’re not engaged in the day-to-day business of parliament you are free
to campaign for the things you believe in… that’s what I have done since
then.”
Meanwhile, Commons Speaker John Bercow said Mr Benn would be “sorely missed”.
He said: “I was very sad to learn of Tony Benn’s passing. I have been proud
to know him for the last two decades and to be able to call him a friend.
“He was a man of deep socialist principle, obvious humanity and great personal
warmth. A brilliant Parliamentarian, he penned amongst the most memorable
political diaries. He will be sorely missed.”
Labour MP Dennis Skinner, who had known Mr Benn since 1970, said: “He was a
socialist colleague in a constituency next to mine for something like 17
years so we campaigned together and I well remember traversing the country
with him during the miners’ strike in 1984/85.
“He was one of the greatest assets the Labour Party has ever had. He was a
campaigner and a teacher. His whole idea was about trying to influence
people, not just in Parliament but outside too.”
