The former cabinet minister and figurehead of the left died at home aged 88
Friends and political foes united yesterday to pay tribute to Tony Benn, hailing the Labour stalwart as a “champion of the powerless” after his death at the age of 88.
The party’s longest-serving MP died at home surrounded by his family, and within minutes of the announcement accolades poured in.
Mr Benn was admitted to hospital for treatment early last month after feeling unwell. He returned home on March 4 and died yesterday morning.
His children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua said their father had fought to transform the world.
They said: “We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives. But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world for the better.”
Mr Benn was also hailed by MPs across the political divide. Tory PM David Cameron said he was a “magnificent writer, speaker and campaigner”.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said he would be remembered “as a champion of the powerless” and Lib Dem Deputy PM Nick Clegg praised him as “a hugely iconic figure” known by all.
And last night it emerged the statesman had left a heart-warming message of thanks to those closest to him to be broadcast after his death.
In the Channel 4 clip he thanked his family and late wife Caroline. He went on: “All the many other people who supported me – I hope that in return I encourage them and didn’t give offence because I tried to speak my mind and that’s what you have to do in politics.”
At the end of the recording he raised his finger up and joked: “And I’ll check that on transmission.”
To do so he had to renounce his peerage after inheriting his father’s title of Viscount Stansgate in 1960.
Peers were barred from sitting in the Commons, but he won a change in the law to allow him to give up his status.
Mr Benn returned to the Commons after winning a by-election the same year and he held several Cabinet posts in the 1970s.
Roles included secretary of state for industry and secretary of state for energy under Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan. The anti-war campaigner stood unsuccessfully for the Labour leadership in 1976 and 1988 before finally standing down in 2001, famously saying that he wanted to “spend more time on politics”. Yesterday Mr Miliband paid tribute to the “iconic figure of our age”.
He said: “He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician. He spoke his mind and spoke up for his values. Everyone knew where he stood and what he stood for.”
He added: “I did work experience with him at age 16. I may have been a teenager but he treated me as an equal.
“It was the nature of the man and the principle of his politics. I saw him a couple of weeks ago in hospital. He may have been ailing in body but was as sharp as ever in mind. As I left he said: ‘Well, old son. Let’s have a proper talk when you have more time’.”
Meanwhile ex-cabinet minister for Labour Peter Hain wrote: “Tony Benn was a giant of socialism. The older he got the more radical he became – more socialist preacher less politician: a remarkable, inspiring person.”
Despite serving as an RAF pilot in the Second World War, Mr Benn was a huge opponent of military action, rallying against the Falklands war, the Kosovo war and invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. He also became president of the Stop the War Coalition. His strong beliefs split opinion but PM Mr Cameron said: “He was a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner, with a strong record of public and political service.
“There was never a dull moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with everything he said.”
Former Tory PM Sir John Major praised him as “a true political warrior” while ex-Labour leader Tony Blair said he was a “genuine radical”.
Union leaders said the death had left the Labour movement in mourning. Unite chief Len McCluskey said: “Every socialist, trade unionist and progressive campaigner of the last 60 years or more will be bereft, since their lives will have been entwined with Tony Benn’s.
“He was a hero to me and millions more, not only because of what he advocated – social justice, democracy and peace – but because of the way he advocated it, with passion, decency and without malice. Tony fought for his ideals almost to the last breath.”
But it was not only his political views that inspired so many. Labour MP Diane Abbott touched on a more personal
side, remembering his MP son Hilary’s first speech in Parliament. She said: “One of the most touching things I saw in Parliament was Hilary’s maiden speech. Tony came into the chamber and his eyes were streaming with tears.”
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