Tony Benn

Loyal followers of this blog will know I'm a big fan of former Labour MP Tony Benn. Today, he spoke and did a book signing at St. Michael's Without Church. I went along to hear him speak for the second time since we arrived in Bath. He was mesmerising! It is so refreshing to hear someone who simply speaks his mind without spin, without vitriol, and with a great sense of humour. It helps that he is an old lefty. His latest book is a diary of his life since leaving the House of Commons. It is quite political yet interspersed with insights into his family life and his struggles with aging.

I took along my copy for him to sign. We had a brief but friendly chat. I told him that I had lived in Cincinnati (his late wife was from Cincinnati), I told him I was a Congregational Minister (his mother was a Congregational Minister), I told him that Maurene and I were becoming citizens of the United Kingdom on Wednesday. He asked where we lived in Cincy. Talked about Congregationalism and the direct line we have to the Almighty. He didn't say anything about the Citizenship Ceremony although in his book he is quite critical of swearing allegiance to the Queen. He is not a monarchist and describes the oath of allegiance as revolting. He does admit to repeating it when he joined Parliament. He says his oath is the same as American Patriot Thomas Paine: "My country is the world. My religion is to do good." He has written an authoritative book on Paine.

My favourite quote of the day. "The Labour party is not a socialist party. But their are a few of us socialists in the Labour Party. Just like their are a few Christians in churches." Bingo!

For a video sample go to: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/tony_benn/2007/10/the_struggle_goes_on.html