[BoviBoy]

The great man speaking. What I would give to see him back in the chamber and hear what he has to say.

The Issue is Thatcher (The man was so right)


Pit Closures

[BoviBoy]

Tony Tells off the BBC and overrides their decision to not broadcast the address for the Gaza Crisis



And the Ali G interview (Your living in a world where everyones just so bloody greedy)



Retired from politics and still going. State funeral for this man please when he finally leaves us.

[Si1]

this is the man who, on the day the UK went cap in hand for an IMF bailout in the late 1970s, the govt minutes show, chose not to concern himself with the plight of the 10s of millions of britons living in poverty and destitution as a result of failed government (both that Labour govt and the prior tory one) [see Greece for a current equivalent]

issues like how do we deal with the financial pain, the riots, the joblessness

oh no, he decided to open a discussion in cabinet on the relevance of marx to the modern world

Champagne Socialism of the most f*cked up sort

[SpewLabour]

 Si1, on 13 February 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

this is the man who, on the day the UK went cap in hand for an IMF bailout in the late 1970s, the govt minutes show, chose not to concern himself with the plight of the 10s of millions of britons living in poverty and destitution as a result of failed government (both that Labour govt and the prior tory one) [see Greece for a current equivalent]

issues like how do we deal with the financial pain, the riots, the joblessness

oh no, he decided to open a discussion in cabinet on the relevance of marx to the modern world

Champagne Socialism of the most f*cked up sort

Seconded. Tony Benn as one of the key supporters of the formation of British Leyland did more than anyone else to screw up the car industry in this country. And lets not forget that this great champion of the miners closed a large number of pits while Energy Secretary. After the miners strike had ended he tried to introduce a bill to pardon all the miners arrested during the strike period, including the two charmers who dropped a concrete block onto the taxi driver, David Wilkie.

When Argentina invaded the Falklands he didn't support an invasion to get them back, but wanted the UN to deal with it. Military dictatorships aren't known for doing what the UN says...

A legend indeed.

[BoviBoy]

Don't we all now live in a wonderful world because Mr Benn didn't make PM!

[BoviBoy]

And the lying, thiefing asset stripping crap we've had in over the last 30 years...

[Flick the Beeny]

 Si1, on 13 February 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

this is the man who, on the day the UK went cap in hand for an IMF bailout in the late 1970s, the govt minutes show, chose not to concern himself with the plight of the 10s of millions of britons living in poverty and destitution as a result of failed government (both that Labour govt and the prior tory one) [see Greece for a current equivalent]

issues like how do we deal with the financial pain, the riots, the joblessness

oh no, he decided to open a discussion in cabinet on the relevance of marx to the modern world

Champagne Socialism of the most f*cked up sort

Perhaps he was dropping a bit of a hint regarding the failings of capitalism - incredibly the financial pain was dealt with very swiftly and the IMF loan was paid back well before expectations.

I really like Tony Benn, he is a fantastic orator even if you don't agree with his points he makes life more interesting.

[Si1]

 BoviBoy, on 14 February 2012 - 04:59 PM, said:

And the lying, thiefing asset stripping crap we've had in over the last 30 years...

you mean the process by which we went from being a poor to a rich country?

awful thing...

[Goat]

 Russ W, on 15 February 2012 - 10:11 PM, said:

... the IMF loan was paid back well before expectations.

IIRC we never actually borrowed the money although there was an agreement in place if we wanted it.

[EUBanana]

Commissar Benn would probably be trying to shut down the internet like he shut down pirate radio.

[Flick the Beeny]

 Goat, on 22 February 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

IIRC we never actually borrowed the money although there was an agreement in place if we wanted it.

Apologies - my memory was wrong but I think it was the case that because the UK recovery was so quick, Healey was offered a senior position in the IMF.

[BoviBoy]

 Si1, on 22 February 2012 - 12:22 PM, said:

you mean the process by which we went from being a poor to a rich country?

awful thing...

And now quickly on its way to being a third world country. Short term gain for long term pain, no thought for the future.

How wonderful it's all turned out pricing your fellow offspring out of their own country just so a certain generation/group could feel rich!

[BoviBoy]

 Si1, on 13 February 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

Champagne Socialism of the most f*cked up sort

Over that thing that created cardboard cities, destroyed communities and industry, forced everyone to have their wages paid into a bank account so that the financial sector could gamble with them, slap a tax on everyone over the age of 18 and force them to pay the exorbitant amount or end up in court even if you didn't earn said money or were lucky enough to have a roof over your head (not even mentioning those houses she freely gave away and refused to build more for people who so desperately needed them).

And that war mongering liar and his disgusting wife

I'll take Benn, he at least is still fighting for what he believes in. What are the others doing?

[Executive Sadman]

Benn has the luxury of never being PM. I often think of Barry Goldwater or Ron Paul as great statesmen, but neither did or will get the reigns of power. Im sure if either did, they would be a great dissapointment. As im sure Tony Benn would too. A good public speaker, that is all, who should bless his lucky stars he never got to be PM.