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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

“There is no moral difference between a Stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. They both kill innocent people for political reasons.”

War Peace Terrorism Uk

Author:Tony Benn

“We have been in recess since July, and during that time there has been a fuel crisis, a Danish no vote, the collapse of the euro and a war in the middle east, but what is our business tomorrow? The Insolvency Bill [Lords]. It ought to be called the Bankruptcy Bill [Commons], because we play no role.”

Has Beens War Play Lord Roles Middle Ought Tomorrow Vote Crisis Bills East Fuel Middle East Collapse July Bankruptcy Euro Recess Danish Insolvency

Author:Tony Benn

“The peace movement didn't stop the Iraq but I think that Blair would not be able to go along and support an Iranian war.”

Thinking War Support Iranian

Author:Tony Benn

“The First World War created the Second World War because that was a war between three grandsons of Queen Victoria: The King of England, the Kaiser and the Tsar married Queen Victoria's granddaughter. And that triggered Communism in Russia and Fascism in Germany and led to the Second World War.”

World War Married Communism War Of The Worlds Fascism Second World War First World War Grandson Granddaughter

Author:Tony Benn

“I'm interested in language. We used to call it the War Office. Then it became the Ministry of Defence. We used to talk about the hydrogen bomb, now we talk about a deterrent. And the language is very cleverly constructed to give the impression that it's not what it is.”

Giving War Language Office Impression Very Clever

Author:Tony Benn

“I think if journalists were responsible for international policy we'd have a nuclear war every week.”

Thinking War Week Policy Responsible Journalist Nuclear War

Author:Tony Benn

“All war represents a failure of diplomacy.”

War Failure Anti War Antiwar Diplomacy Diplomats

Author:Tony Benn

“There is no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. Both kill innocent people for political reasons.”

People War Reason Political Politics Differences Moral Suicide Terrorism Innocent Antiwar Bombers Stealth Suicide Bombers

Author:Tony Benn

“We used to have a War Office, but now we have a Ministry of Defence, nuclear bombs are now described as deterrents, innocent civilians killed in war are now described as collateral damage and military incompetence leading to US bombers killing British soldiers is cosily described as friendly fire. Those who are in favour of peace are described as mavericks and troublemakers, whereas the real militants are those who want the war.”

“I opposed the Suez war, I opposed the Falklands war. I opposed the Libyan bombing and I opposed the Gulf war and I never believed that any of those principled arguments lost a single vote - indeed, I think they gained support though that was not why you did it. What has been lacking in Labour politics over a long period is a principled stand”

Thinking Long Has Beens War Politics Lost Support Periods Argument Vote Labour Lacking Bombing Gulf War Principled Falklands

Author:Tony Benn

“Undoubtedly the war with Iraq was a tragedy. I think it was also a crime.”

Thinking War Crime Tragedy Iraq

Author:Tony Benn

“After the war people said, 'If you can plan for war, why can't you plan for peace?' When I was 17, I had a letter from the government saying, 'Dear Mr. Benn, will you turn up when you're 17 1/2? We'll give you free food, free clothes, free training, free accommodation, and two shillings, ten pence a day to just kill Germans.' People said, well, if you can have full employment to kill people, why in God's name couldn't you have full employment and good schools, good hospitals, good houses?”

People Ifs Giving Wells Said Two War Government School Turns House Names Plans Ten Clothes Training Letters Dear Employment Hospitals Accommodations Good School Free Food

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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