Tony Benn Icon of the British Left dies age 88

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/14/tony-benn-dead_n_4961964.html

Really the last one left standing from the heyday of British socialism.

Myself I always liked Benn and most of what he stood for. It's quite impressive that he renounced an hereditary title in order to be an ordinary member of parliament.
Always a champion of socialist values, in later life he also campaigned hard for peace despite declining health. A pipe smoker and avid tea drinker he was very likely the last of a generation of British politicians who were inspired by some ideal of social justice as the main aim of government.

There were 2 things I didn't agree with - Benn was against Britain's membership of the EU, and he was one of the architects of the disastrous policy of uni-lateral nuclear disarmament which contributed to Labour loosing to Thatcher when Micheal Foot led the party.

He was a well respected figure, and his loss means the left looses a prominent and articulate voice.

 

Yeah.Good old Tony Benn.I always liked him.We could do with more like him in politics on the left and even on the right.This new breed lack heart in my opinion.

 

With Tony Benn's death following shortly after the demise of Bob Crow, it seems the left in the UK is loosing two prominent voices.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/11/bob-crow-dies-52-rmt-union-leader