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Tony Benn

Tony Benn Quotes

Former Member of the European Parliament

Tony Benn was a prominent British politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament for over 50 years. He was a key figure in the Labour Party and held various ministerial positions in the government. Benn was known for his radical left-wing views and his commitment to social justice and equality.

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Famous Tony Benn Quotes

“The general election of 1983 has produced one important result that has passed virtually without comment in the media. It is that, for the first time since 1945, a political party with an openly socialist policy has received the support of over eight and a half million people. This is a remarkable development by any standards and it deserves some analysis ... the 1983 Labour manifesto commanded the loyalty of millions of voters and a democratic socialist bridge-head in public understanding and support can be made.”

“The present combination of corporate or commercial control theoretically answerable to politically appointed Boards of Governors is not in any sense a democratic enough procedure to control the power the broadcasters have.”

Enough Democratic Combination Corporate Boards Governors Procedures Broadcasters

Book:The Best of Benn

Source: The Best of Benn

“Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. And then he wins the world peace prize and becomes president of South Africa. That's how change happens. It's very important not to differentiate protest from the democratic process.”

World Important Winning President Democratic Terrorist Protest Prize South Africa

Author:Tony Benn

“I think to understand how the democratic process works is the most important thing, so people don't get frightened by it, and get put off, and give up.”

People Thinking Giving Important Giving Up Democratic

Author:Tony Benn

“If the Queen can reject the advice of a minister on a little thing like a postage stamp, what would happen if she rejected the advice of the Prime Minister on a major matter? If the Crown personally can reject advice, then, of course, the whole democratic facade turns out to be false”

Ifs Littles Matter Whole Happens Turns Courses Politics Advice Majors Democratic Ministers Queens Rejects Prime Little Things Crowns Rejected Prime Minister Stamps Facade Postage Postage Stamps

Author:Tony Benn

“When I saw how the European Union was developing, it was very obvious what they had in mind was not democratic. In Britain, you vote for a government so the government has to listen to you, and if you don't like it you can change it.”

Ifs Mind Government Change Democracy Saws Listening Europe Vote Election Unions Democratic Obvious Developing Britain Voting Governing European Union

Author:Tony Benn

“If one meets a powerful person - Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates - ask them five questions: 'What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?' If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.”

People Ifs Persons Asks Interest Powerful Five Exercise Bills Democratic Gates Powerful Person

Author:Tony Benn

“People in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don't vote. They always say that that everyone should vote but I think that if the poor in Britain or the United States turned out and voted for people that represented their interests there would be a real democratic revolution.”

People Ifs Thinking Should Real States Would Be Interest Poor United United States Revolution Vote Democratic Debt Britain Hopeless

Author:Tony Benn

“Change from below, the formulation of demands from the populace to end unacceptable injustice, supported by direct action, has played a far larger part in shaping British democracy than most constitutional lawyers, political commentators, historians or statesmen have ever cared to admit. Direct action in a democratic society is fundamentally an educational exercise.”

Ends Action Political Democracy Exercise Demand Direct Democratic Injustice Educational British Lawyer Historian Statesmen Commentators Democratic Society Direct Action

Author:Tony Benn

About the Author

Born: April 3, 1925
Died: March 14, 2014
Known for: Former Member of the European Parliament
Quotes: 151

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Books & Sources

Out of the Wilderness: Diaries, 1963-67Related source material

SpeechesRelated source material

Arguments for socialismRelated source material

Out of the Wilderness: Diaries 1963-67Related source material

The Best of BennRelated source material

The end of an era: diaries, 1980-90Related source material

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