Re: TONY BENN DEAD : Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:45 pm
Would comfortably talk rings around most of todays politicians, journalists and commentators- especially that shower they had on QT last night. My honest opinion of him, I thought he was a talker rather than a dooer, making things actually happen in government or politics relies on a certain pragmatism that I think he lacked in favour of always staying on his message. There is no question he was intelligent and I agree with many of his stated principles, but when I read his 5 questions I do wonder if he fell short himself when it came to who he served. In my opinion he served himself as much as any I have seen in politics, the fact his ideals were in many cases aligned with many of my beliefs doesn't alter the fact that his, at times, innability to see past his own agenda at a time when his brand of socialism was not a vote winner cost the Labour party and the country dearly. Self indulgent when the country needed an opposition that was united and electable. I'm sure some old Tories were huge fans of Tony Benn and his work on the left of the Labour party.
But even as a kid I knew who he was and what he stood for. Government these days looks like the management team of WHSmith - and is just as recognisable.
I wonder if his diaries will ever get published? On-line versions could make intersting reading, but then maybe you don't need to know everything about everybody.
