Tony Benn - The Politician With Principles
Tony Benn was politician who was a Member of the British Parliament (MP) for 47 years including serving as a cabinet minister. When his father died Benn inherited his peerage. He would have become a Viscount and have taken a seat in the British House of Lords. The problem was that Benn was already a minister in the House of Commons – a position he would have to forfeit because of constitutional rules. He campaigned successfully to have the rule changed and renounced his title.
Benn was a man of the people. Inherited status didn’t matter to him as much as his principles did. He was an advocate for social justice. Sometimes he was extreme in his views. He became marginalised by his own political party, which, ultimately, became New Labour, whose politics were almost indistinguishable from the conservative right that Benn despised.
When he left parliament after a long career he continued to be a active in politics as a leader in the anti-war movement.
What can we learn from Tony Benn?
Benn was a dissenter with enormous self belief. He famously said "It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you." Whether his political views proved right or wrong matters less than his principled and consitent belief in them.
In a way he was like a reflection of his great nemesis Margaret Thatcher – her political views were almost the opposite of Benn’s and while Benn rejected his peerage, Mrs Thatcher accepted one after leaving parliament.
Benn could have enjoyed the privelege of unearned status with a lifetime seat in England’s House of Lords and passed it on to his own son but his view of democracy was more egalitarian and he rejected it – proving the theory that a principle is just talk until it costs you something.
Benn often recited a bible song 'Dare to be a Daniel' (and wrote a book with that title), that summarises his worldview:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.
Benn was a man of the people. Inherited status didn’t matter to him as much as his principles did. He was an advocate for social justice. Sometimes he was extreme in his views. He became marginalised by his own political party, which, ultimately, became New Labour, whose politics were almost indistinguishable from the conservative right that Benn despised.
When he left parliament after a long career he continued to be a active in politics as a leader in the anti-war movement.
What can we learn from Tony Benn?
Benn was a dissenter with enormous self belief. He famously said "It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you." Whether his political views proved right or wrong matters less than his principled and consitent belief in them.
In a way he was like a reflection of his great nemesis Margaret Thatcher – her political views were almost the opposite of Benn’s and while Benn rejected his peerage, Mrs Thatcher accepted one after leaving parliament.
Benn could have enjoyed the privelege of unearned status with a lifetime seat in England’s House of Lords and passed it on to his own son but his view of democracy was more egalitarian and he rejected it – proving the theory that a principle is just talk until it costs you something.
Benn often recited a bible song 'Dare to be a Daniel' (and wrote a book with that title), that summarises his worldview:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.
BOOK:
Tony Benn: A Political Life
"Once tipped to lead the Labour Party, Benn's growing disillusionment with what he regarded as the "democratic deficit" infecting politics, reinforced his resolve to continue playing the role he valued most, as "a good House of Commons Man". This title traces his 50-year political career."
Tony Benn: A Political Life
"Once tipped to lead the Labour Party, Benn's growing disillusionment with what he regarded as the "democratic deficit" infecting politics, reinforced his resolve to continue playing the role he valued most, as "a good House of Commons Man". This title traces his 50-year political career."
VIDEO CLIP:
Tony Benn speaking passionately in parliament.
Tony Benn speaking passionately in parliament.
