Tony Benn: RIP

[MagyarMiller]

In my opinion a genuine loss, whatever your politics.

There doesn't seem to be so many left of his type who you feel are absolutely in politics for what they can give and not what they can take.

[fivetide]

Agree with his politics or not you had to admire his conviction. Clegg, Cameron and Milliband will do or say anything to win a vote and they wonder why so many people are turned off from their brand of politics.

We need more people like Benn to come in to politics. People who will say what they think rather than what the spin doctors tell them and delight in challenging the establishment.

RIP to a great man.

It isn't spindoctors, it is the party whips. That's the problem with most of politics. The whips tell them how they need to vote, even if they are personally against it. While the idea of a party isn't bad, stifling debate is.

To that end Tony Benn will be missed. A character who did say what he thought rather than what he was told to think just because he was a labour party member.

[leedsmiller]

The definitive humanitarian RIP

[MansfieldMiller]

RIP to a great politician and a great human being. Sadly many people have a tainted view of him thanks to the gutter press.

He delivered one of my favourite quotes when he said of Thatcher something like "she knows the price of everything and the value of nothing".

[sawmiller]

Perhaps more people would show an interest in politics if we had people like this around, rather than the narcissistically driven, pallid and vapid generation of politicians we now have...


a sad loss wherever you do or don't sit on the spectrum of politics

[Brin]

In my opinion a genuine loss, whatever your politics.

There doesn't seem to be so many left of his type who you feel are absolutely in politics for what they can give and not what they can take.

Very aptly put...never in it for himself but for the good of mankind...

R.I.P Tony it is now time for you to rest...god bless.

[John2]

A great Socialist and Christian who had enormous dignity and compassion for his fellow man.

I find it a shame you've opportunistically chosen to use his death to evangelise Christianity, considering its not clear Tony Benn even was one any more than I am and it certainly doesn't define him in the way his socialism does.

As I've gotten more into politics, the more I've learned about Tony Benn the more I've come to admire him as one of my all time favourite politicians. A man of integrity who will be very sadly missed. Born into the aristocracy, and rejected it. RIP.

[jolly_roger]

Tony Benn aspired to Christian Socialism.

or is it a different Tony Benn that's died?

or maybe that fact wasn't published in the Guardian

[millmoormagic]

I think you should start another thread if you wanna argue the toss amongst yersens, leave this one for folk to pay their respects fellas...

[John2]

Tony Benn aspired to Christian Socialism.

I'm all for Christian socialism, there are many positive messages in the bible, but I don't believe the bible literally and neither, at least from what I've read, did Tony Benn.

Edit:

I think you should start another thread if you wanna argue the toss amongst yersens, leave this one for folk to pay their respects fellas...

Fair comment. RIP Tony.