| NEWS ARCHIVE |
| APRIL 12th - Mr Benn appeared on the Today programme this morning discussing the issue of the Italian election and proportional representation. Labelling it as fundamentally undemocratic, Benn suggested that a system of single transferrable vote would be better than PR or First Past the Post as it stands now. To hear the discussion, click here. APRIL 12th - Mr Benn was invited to the official opening of the National Union of Students new offices. He stressed the importance of the N.U.S and stated "It's not just about fees and jobs, it's the world your children and grandchildren will live in." APRIL 11TH - Mr Benn appeared on last nights Newsnight discussing the latest round of peerages and gave a brilliant account of himself and in support of democracy. Mr Benn asked the obvious question; "Why should we lecture the Middle East on democracy and stuff one of our Houses of Parliament with appointees? It's corrupt" APRIL 7TH - Tony Benn has put his name to a petition set up by the 'Stop War on Iran' organisation. You can access the website and sign the petiton here. MARCH 29TH - Unions estimated over a million public sector workers were out on strike opposing planned changes to their pension scheme. Tony Benn visited some strikers outside a closed public library in Kensington and Chelsea. MARCH 27TH - In the absence of the Glastonbury festival this summer, a documentary is being launched on 14th April at selected cinemas. Amongst others things, the film will feature footage of Tony Benn, a regular at the Leftfield tent as mentioned by Mark Steel (below) MARCH 25TH - Talking before a stand up gig in North Wales, comedian Mark Steel mentioned Mr Benn's appearance at Glastonbury 2005. "Last summer at the Glastonbury Festival, Tony Benn was due to give a talk in a tent holding 4,000 people. When I went along, I couldn't get in! Benn is the very opposite of Tony Blair - no spin, just principles. He had this tremendous opening line: 'I've given up protesting. Now I'm going to start demanding!' The place went absolutely mad. Coldplay didn't get such a rapturous reception - and the great thing was, the average age must have been about 20." MARCH 24TH - Mr Benn appeared as a last minute replacement on BBC 1's Question Time last night. He was replacing the Labour minister Harriet Harman who according to David Dimbleby mysteriously withdrew at the last minute. It was rumoured that Harman withdrew due to the pressure relating to the fnancial scandals afflicting New Labour in the past few weeks. Commenting on the issue Mr Benn stated said the whole affair had been "a disgrace", adding: "I hope the Labour Party gains control not just of its finances, but also its policy." You can watch the programme on the BBC website. MARCH 20TH 2006 - Tony is interviewed by The Independent in a '5 minute' interview. Click the button to read the transcript. MARCH 18TH 2006 - Tony Benn spoke at the anti-war rally in London on the weekend. Organised by CND, Stop the War and the Muslim Association of Britain, police estimated an attendence of 14,000. Benn stated that whatever the numbers, the protest against the war was representative of public opinion worldwide and that "what's important is the people who have come on the march. We have built relationships with Muslims, Jews, Christians, blacks, whites. We want to dismiss the idea that it's a religous war, which it isn't" MARCH 18TH 2006 - Concorde won a national vote for the best British design of the 20th Century. As the minister responsible at the time, Mr Benn commented "I'm absolutely delighted that concorde's won. Whenever Concorde flies, people look at it, it's very graceful, it's very beautfiful, it is a symbol of peace and international understanding. It wasn't the most commercial vehicle to start with but the design and beauty and skill is something that you just have to honour, and I do" |
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