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| Tony Benn in Oxford tonight |
Veteran socialist politician Tony Benn was in Oxford tonight to take part in a debate about the controversial Iraq war.
The former MP for Chesterfield, 83, who in February, 2004 was elected the first President of the Stop the War Coalition, appeared at the Town Hall together with other anti-war protesters.
The event was organised by the London-based group Action for UN Renewal.
It involved a debate on the subject Five years of war in Iraq: What role can the United Nations play in building peace and security.
Hundreds of people turned out to hear the debate by one of politics' most enduring figures.
Mr Benn studied at Oxford's New College, where he read philosophy, politics and economics. He was also elected president of the Oxford Union and is a regular visitor to the city.
Mr Benn was joined in the debate by John Tanner, whose last day as Lord Mayor of Oxford is tomorrow.
8:26pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mr Ison, England on 10:00pm Wed 14 May 08
It's late in the day and the shadows are lengthening.
Uranium is still fresh as a daisy though.
It's late in the day and the shadows are lengthening.
Uranium is still fresh as a daisy though.
Posted by: Trevor, Auckland, New Zealand on 12:22am Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Mr Ison[/bold] wrote:
It's late in the day and the shadows are lengthening.
Uranium is still fresh as a daisy though.[/quote] Ah, but I'll wager there was most certainly no smell of it on his breath.
RIP: David Lange
Mr Ison wrote:
It's late in the day and the shadows are lengthening.
Uranium is still fresh as a daisy though.
Ah, but I'll wager there was most certainly no smell of it on his breath.
RIP: David Lange
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 12:31am Thu 15 May 08
Cold War Hoax they say,no need for apian products.
Cold War Hoax they say,no need for apian products.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 1:20am Thu 15 May 08
Thinking of those marvellous Swamp Kauri i wonder what is to be done with those monsters who's crimes against humanity are on a geological timescale.
Perhaps Mr Benn can take a stab at answering the question.
I know what i would do.
Thinking of those marvellous Swamp Kauri i wonder what is to be done with those monsters who's crimes against humanity are on a geological timescale.
Perhaps Mr Benn can take a stab at answering the question.
I know what i would do.
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster on 1:29am Thu 15 May 08
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs.
In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression.
The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith.
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs.
In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression.
The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith.
Posted by: alan page on 11:12am Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Keith Lonsdale[/bold] wrote:
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs. In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression. The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith. [/quote] Couldn't agree with you more.
Read "Gorbals Boy at Oxford" and you will see the true face of the bourgeois left.
It even discusses Philip Toynbee.
The middle classes are only out for themselves and if it means lying and manipulating others, they will do it.
The only difference between a union and a corporate executive is the colour of their evening dress suits.
Keith Lonsdale wrote:
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs. In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression. The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith.
Couldn't agree with you more.
Read "Gorbals Boy at Oxford" and you will see the true face of the bourgeois left.
It even discusses Philip Toynbee.
The middle classes are only out for themselves and if it means lying and manipulating others, they will do it.
The only difference between a union and a corporate executive is the colour of their evening dress suits.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 12:27pm Thu 15 May 08
If he were campaigning for the legal recognition of Zionism as organised crime we would have heard about it by now.
Red herring is his game.
If he were campaigning for the legal recognition of Zionism as organised crime we would have heard about it by now.
Red herring is his game.
Posted by: Bob Howse, The House Of LOrds on 2:42pm Thu 15 May 08
I agree-how can Tony Benn call himself a socialist when he's part of the aristocratic establishment? Remember his full title-Sir Antony Wedgewood Benn-he's a Lord for chrissakes!
I agree-how can Tony Benn call himself a socialist when he's part of the aristocratic establishment? Remember his full title-Sir Antony Wedgewood Benn-he's a Lord for chrissakes!
Posted by: Questioner, Abingdon on 3:00pm Thu 15 May 08
It was nice to see a leading proletarian walking amongst us in St Aldates in the warm sunshine yesterday afternoon, indeed strolling past The House, that wonderful site of great ostentatious priviledge.
It was nice to see a leading proletarian walking amongst us in St Aldates in the warm sunshine yesterday afternoon, indeed strolling past The House, that wonderful site of great ostentatious priviledge.
Posted by: Baleful Spectre of Truth on 7:39pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Bob Howse[/bold] wrote:
I agree-how can Tony Benn call himself a socialist when he's part of the aristocratic establishment? Remember his full title-Sir Antony Wedgewood Benn-he's a Lord for chrissakes![/quote] That's somewhat misleading. Benn inherited a peerage in 1960 but he disclaimed it; indeed, it was he who brought about the change in the law enabling people to disclaim their peerages. And it's wrong to call him "Sir Anthony"; he is not and never has been a knight.
Bob Howse wrote:
I agree-how can Tony Benn call himself a socialist when he's part of the aristocratic establishment? Remember his full title-Sir Antony Wedgewood Benn-he's a Lord for chrissakes!
That's somewhat misleading. Benn inherited a peerage in 1960 but he disclaimed it; indeed, it was he who brought about the change in the law enabling people to disclaim their peerages. And it's wrong to call him "Sir Anthony"; he is not and never has been a knight.
Posted by: Baleful Spectre of Truth on 7:49pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Keith Lonsdale[/bold] wrote:
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs. In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression. The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith. [/quote] Benn's no Europhile. A fierce opponent of the EU treaty, he condemns the EU as "absolutely undemocratic" and says it should be reformed and power handed back to nation states and elected politicians.
Keith Lonsdale wrote:
Benn is a charlatan; a champagne socialist with a vast family fortune, who is a very vocal advocate of a system who's adverse side effects he can well afford to buy himself out of. Not so the rest of us plebs. In the days of Soviet Russia, it was people like him, and that odious woman from the Gruniad, Polly PC Toynbee, that were wafted around in Zil limos along special lanes reserved for the party elite, whilst the rest of the population suffered poverty and oppression. The fact that Benn and his ilk are avid EUrophiles is reason enough for me to be extremely wary of that burgeoning socialist monolith.
Benn's no Europhile. A fierce opponent of the EU treaty, he condemns the EU as "absolutely undemocratic" and says it should be reformed and power handed back to nation states and elected politicians.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 9:41pm Thu 15 May 08
Stick em with bill Benn passed his sell by date long ago.
He was paid well for his subversive antics and the sound of his own voice.
Nothing to be gained by listening to the noises coming from his mouth.
Stick em with bill Benn passed his sell by date long ago.
He was paid well for his subversive antics and the sound of his own voice.
Nothing to be gained by listening to the noises coming from his mouth.
Posted by: Mrs Ison, also in England on 10:31pm Thu 15 May 08
[italic]There[/italic] you are, dear! I've been looking for you everywhere - you're two hours late for your medication again.
There you are, dear! I've been looking for you everywhere - you're two hours late for your medication again.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 10:53pm Thu 15 May 08
Because of course Mr Benn did not believe in nations,he believes in Towards the Collective!,Cultivat
e Vegetables!,8 million tons of Pig Iron!.
And all those other nonsensical cult slogans.
He served as a fifth columnist and still does in his leisure time.
A fairweather Bolshie as mentioned earlier,wouldnt be surrendering his wealth to the collective or soiling his hands with a confiscated plough or spending any time involved in the means of production.
Because of course Mr Benn did not believe in nations,he believes in Towards the Collective!,Cultivat
e Vegetables!,8 million tons of Pig Iron!.
And all those other nonsensical cult slogans.
He served as a fifth columnist and still does in his leisure time.
A fairweather Bolshie as mentioned earlier,wouldnt be surrendering his wealth to the collective or soiling his hands with a confiscated plough or spending any time involved in the means of production.
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 11:05pm Thu 15 May 08
Look at his contemporary crazies as well,Enoch Powell for example.
The other side of the bench but just as nutty,believed the black man would hae the whip hand.
At the time the Israeli were stealing nuclear secrets and building Nooklar boms.
Mr Benn of course demanded the cover story was one of poverty,we were too poor to defend ourselves from the emerging terrorist threat.
One could be forgiven for wondering why a man who spoke gibberish for such a long time was enabled to do so.
Look at his contemporary crazies as well,Enoch Powell for example.
The other side of the bench but just as nutty,believed the black man would hae the whip hand.
At the time the Israeli were stealing nuclear secrets and building Nooklar boms.
Mr Benn of course demanded the cover story was one of poverty,we were too poor to defend ourselves from the emerging terrorist threat.
One could be forgiven for wondering why a man who spoke gibberish for such a long time was enabled to do so.
Posted by: The Anti-Ison, Oxford on 10:38am Fri 16 May 08
"One could be forgiven for wondering why a man who spoke gibberish for such a long time was enabled to do so."
Pots and kettles spring to mind, sir…
"One could be forgiven for wondering why a man who spoke gibberish for such a long time was enabled to do so."
Pots and kettles spring to mind, sir…
Posted by: Mr Ison, Bikini on 6:46pm Fri 16 May 08
Churchill confiscated those.
It was a close shave,Stalin was right on the doorstep and leering in.
Only the unsung heroes prevented the Gulags from enriching the British way of life.
Churchill confiscated those.
It was a close shave,Stalin was right on the doorstep and leering in.
Only the unsung heroes prevented the Gulags from enriching the British way of life.
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster on 4:20am Sat 17 May 08
Baleful Spectre of Truth: After further research, I stand corrected on Benn's attitude towards some aspects of the EU.
However, I stand by all else.
Baleful Spectre of Truth: After further research, I stand corrected on Benn's attitude towards some aspects of the EU.
However, I stand by all else.
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