(Originally published for Champion Up North)
When Tony Benn stood down in 2001 he explained his decision as his: "leaving parliament in order to spend more time on politics"- after four years under Tony Blair’s premiership he’d decided to kick it in. Benn was a Labour socialist- a believer in the principles of social justice and equality, an opponent of war- in short his beliefs didn't fit with the New Labour cocktail of baby-kissing, oil-grabbing, neo-liberal shit.
When Tony Benn stood down in 2001 he explained his decision as his: "leaving parliament in order to spend more time on politics"- after four years under Tony Blair’s premiership he’d decided to kick it in. Benn was a Labour socialist- a believer in the principles of social justice and equality, an opponent of war- in short his beliefs didn't fit with the New Labour cocktail of baby-kissing, oil-grabbing, neo-liberal shit.
On his death today a variety of figures from across the parties will pay tribute to him, the done thing. No doubt they’ll praise his principles and conviction, but they’ll do it with an air of detachment. Benn’s principled politics are considered old school now, a relic of past. It’s no longer trendy to talk about justice and fairness; instead politicians talk in focus-group determined buzzwords and phrases: ‘hard-working families!’; ‘the cost of living!’; ‘we’re all in this together!’. Saying what they think the public want to hear, rather than saying what they believe.
So forget the lip-service; the tributes; the faux-emotional send-offs and watch this:
Remember why the world will be a sadder place without Tony Benn.
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