Tony Benn to run again?

[Bodmass]

Can't believe there isn't a thread about this, but Benn is hoping to run again in Kensington, and he stands an outside chance because of boundary changes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7028042.stm

I can understand him wanting a London seat, to save on travel time, but it's a shame he can't have something easier to win.

(dare I suggest he runs in BG&B? )

 

[butchersapron]

He wants to stand for labour. His 12 year old daughter has the constituency vote in an other seat. His son is is the cabinet. And he wants to do away with the herditary principle why? I feel sick.

 

[coccinelle]

Tony Benn is one of the loveliest politicians that has ever been. He's now a national cuddly treasure. Anything he wants to do is OK by me

 

[butchersapron]

Thus the death of the left.

 

[coccinelle]

In the UK political world, he was/is the only who keeps documenting and warning about the aggressive nature of the USA and who opposed the Iraq invasion without any caveats. That's the sort of left I like.

 

[JTG]

complete hypocrite when in office, it's far safer and easier to look principled when you don't have to actually put those principles into action.

I can see the appeal but, you know, fuck him with the rest of 'em.

 

[butchersapron]

In the UK political world, he was/is the only who keeps documenting and warning about the aggressive nature of the USA and who opposed the Iraq invasion without any caveats. That's the sort of left I like.

No, he's not the only one - not by long way.

 

[newbie]

Thus the death of the left.

is 'the left' really so dependent on one patrician and his offspring? how depressing.

 

[JTG]

is 'the left' really so dependent on one patrician and his offspring? how depressing.

tbh I think it probably is

 

[butchersapron]

Benn himself getting his seat though his familiy's tradition. He didn't start it, he 's just another beneficiary.

 

[newbie]

there's truth in that, but if Mark Thatcher stood I doubt he'd simply walk into a seat as of right. The hereditary thing works both ways

 

[JTG]

there's truth in that, but if Mark Thatcher stood I doubt he'd simply walk into a seat as of right. The hereditary thing works both ways

not even if he rounded up a squad of mercenaries to remove the sitting MP first?

 

[butchersapron]

there's truth in that, but if Mark Thatcher stood I doubt he'd simply walk into a seat as of right. The hereditary thing works both ways

And? Oh no, are there different circumstances for different familes and people??

 

[Urbanblues]

Is Tony Benn becoming an MP again in order to cut down on his political committments?

 

[Groucho]

is 'the left' really so dependent on one patrician and his offspring? how depressing.

Benn's offspring are far from left wingers.

 

[Groucho]

Is Tony Benn becoming an MP again in order to cut down on his political committments?

I doubt he'll be selected, even for a no hoper seat.

 

[butchersapron]

You lot will rally around the old man once more though.

 

[Sunray]

I cant see this, I saw him at Glastonbury and he is too frail. The guy is in his 80's. Great speaker still. Very passionate still, but doesn't know when to quit.

 

[untethered]

Mr Benn is a eurosceptic. Perhaps he should stand for UKIP.

 

[Groucho]

Mr Benn is a eurosceptic. Perhaps he should stand for UKIP.

Benn's concern is for democracy, not hating foreigners.

 

[Fullyplumped]

Oh behave yourselves you grumpy people. Tony Benn was an extraordinary Labour MP in the past and will be an extraordinary asset to the Commons as a Labour MP if he gets in at the next election. As someone else said, he does stand an outside chance. Why not help him out with leafleting, etc?

 

[butchersapron]

Benn's concern is for democracy, not hating foreigners.

What, are you his spokesman? He is a eurosceptic. Don't call him a racist.

 

[butchersapron]

Oh behave yourselves you grumpy people. Tony Benn was an extraordinary Labour MP in the past and will be an extraordinary asset to the Commons as a Labour MP if he gets in at the next election. As someone else said, he does stand an outside chance. Why not help him out with leafleting, etc?

Off your labour ball bag/ arse eating knees please.

 

[butchersapron]

Benn's concern is for democracy, not hating foreigners.

Most pompous post on here today?

Find me a more pomp-ous one.

 

[Groucho]

Oh, alright.

 

[JTG]

Oh behave yourselves you grumpy people. Tony Benn was an extraordinary Labour MP in the past and will be an extraordinary asset to the Commons as a Labour MP if he gets in at the next election. As someone else said, he does stand an outside chance. Why not help him out with leafleting, etc?

because he's a hypocritical nobhead

being cuddly and believing in old style socialism doesn't make that not true.

 

[untethered]

Benn's concern is for democracy, not hating foreigners.

Oddly enough, that's exactly what UKIP stands for.

However, they also stand for quite a few other things that Mr Benn doesn't, and vice versa.

 

[butchersapron]

Who are you talking about?

He is eurosceptic. You characterised this postion as ' hating foreigners' when held by people other than Mr benn.

 

[Fullyplumped]

Off your labour ball bag/ arse eating knees please.

butchersapron - a radical's radical.

 

[jonH]

What, are you his spokesman? He is a eurosceptic. Don't call him a racist.

Benn made mistakes, but his biggest mistake is thinking he'll win in Kensington, he's going to be spat out after a long period of mastication by the ruling classes, they made him, they'll break him;