A really good documentary first shown on 28 April 1981, in the second month of the contest and at the point when it began to dawn on the pundits that Tony Benn was going to come close to winning. Frank Chapple, leader of the hard right electricians union says on camera that if Benn won the TGWU (which he did in the second round), he would “stand a better than evens chance”. Continue reading
Tagged with Tony Benn
Tony Benn: Will and Testament, at a cinema near you next week
Tony Benn, the longest serving Labour MP in history, is also, arguably, the most popular UK politician of all time. Across the globe and in particular over the last five years his brand of socialism has struck a cord with people of all ages and social backgrounds. For the first time ever through intimate, quasi confessional interviews and his personal, photographic and film archive ‘Will And Testament’ reveals a very human face behind the political mask.
In this feature length film, Tony Benn also criss-crosses the UK bearing witness to major social and political upheavals and events. This documentary is an exclusive and deeply personal look at the life of a national treasure, a frank, candid and sometimes painful exploration of the great themes of life that affected him and affect us all, love, loss, hopes, dreams, fears and death. Never before has a person of his calibre and reputation spoken to camera in such a direct way.
The film is in local cinemas from 3 October. See here for a list of which cinemas and links for timings and further details. There is also a special screening on 5 October, at 4:30pm with a panel discussion afterwards with guests including Labour MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition Lindsey German, former BBC Political Editor John Sergeant and Director Of Photography on Will and Testament Michael Miles. This is live from the Genesis Cinema, Whitechapel in East London but linked to cinemas throughout Britain live by satellite – further details here.
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Tony Benn – a titan of our movement
On the day of Tony Benn’s funeral, Jeremy Corbyn fondly remembers his fellow rebel MP and close friend Tony Benn – including their late-night escapade to put up a commemorative plaque to Emily Wilding Davison in a parliamentary broom cupboard.
The death of Tony Benn is devastating to me, obviously to his family and to millions all around Britain and the world who recognised him as a friend, an honest man, and someone who passionately believed in the cause of socialism and humanity. Continue reading
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Benneconomics – a tribute
I got to know Tony Benn well when I worked as a researcher to the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs in the mid-2000s. I’d first met him when he was about to stand down from Parliament “to devote more time to politics“, a promise which he fulfilled. He filled venues around the country with his “Audience with …” one-man shows, and maintained his prominence as an anti-war campaigner through his presidency of the Stop the War Coalition.
But perhaps the most unexplored aspect of his life has been his contribution to economic thinking for democratic socialists. While no economic theorist or econometrist, Tony Benn emphasised the need for political theory to inform economic policy. Continue reading
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Tony Benn funeral: call for people to line route on Thursday
The funeral service for Tony Benn will take place at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster at 11am on Thursday 27 March. Tony Benn’s body will be taken by hearse from the gates of New Palace Yard, with family members following on foot.
This afternoon, Owen Jones issued a call for people to line the route around Parliament Square. Anyone wishing to do so should be in Parliament Square by 10:30am. It is understood that some organisations will be bringing banners. Continue reading
