The Most Dangerous Man in Britain?: The Political Writing
Jun 2025 · Verso Books
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TONY BENN: FIREBRAND? NATIONAL TREASURE? A SOCIALIST FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
This centenary anthology of Tony Benn’s speeches, writings and interviews is a timely reminder of his political potency and the urgency of his agenda across a wide set of issues: the consequences of empire, the need to embrace industrial change, reform of the state machine and the management of politics.
Called the ‘most dangerous man in Britain’ by the Daily Mail, Tony Benn, Labour MP for over fifty years, was the most distinguished socialist politician of his era. Holding several significant cabinet posts in the 1960s and ’70s, he competed for the Labour Party deputy leadership in 1981 and party leadership in 1988. Throughout his career he put forward a series of arguments on constitutional reform, the economy and foreign affairs – popular and influential policy positions which became known as ‘Bennism’ and set the template for the democratic socialism of the 2010s. A charismatic orator, a life-long campaigner for peace, and a charming disruptor of the mainstream consensus, Benn reached national treasure status in his retirement, his firebrand politics too often overlooked.
The introduction to this collection, written by his daughter, the writer Melissa Benn, offers a more personal portrait of the man, showing how his politics informed all parts of his life. The book also includes a previously unpublished interview with Tony Benn conducted towards the end of his life.
This centenary anthology of Tony Benn’s speeches, writings and interviews is a timely reminder of his political potency and the urgency of his agenda across a wide set of issues: the consequences of empire, the need to embrace industrial change, reform of the state machine and the management of politics.
Called the ‘most dangerous man in Britain’ by the Daily Mail, Tony Benn, Labour MP for over fifty years, was the most distinguished socialist politician of his era. Holding several significant cabinet posts in the 1960s and ’70s, he competed for the Labour Party deputy leadership in 1981 and party leadership in 1988. Throughout his career he put forward a series of arguments on constitutional reform, the economy and foreign affairs – popular and influential policy positions which became known as ‘Bennism’ and set the template for the democratic socialism of the 2010s. A charismatic orator, a life-long campaigner for peace, and a charming disruptor of the mainstream consensus, Benn reached national treasure status in his retirement, his firebrand politics too often overlooked.
The introduction to this collection, written by his daughter, the writer Melissa Benn, offers a more personal portrait of the man, showing how his politics informed all parts of his life. The book also includes a previously unpublished interview with Tony Benn conducted towards the end of his life.
TONY BENN: FIREBRAND? NATIONAL TREASURE? A SOCIALIST FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
This centenary anthology of Tony Benn’s speeches, writings and interviews is a timely reminder of his political potency and the urgency of his agenda across a wide set of issues: the consequences of empire, the nee...
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About the author
Tony Benn (1925 - 2014) was a radical statesman, British Labour Party politician and political activist. He later served as President of the Stop the War Coalition from 2001 to 2014.
Melissa Benn is a journalist, novelist and campaigner. She has written for the Guardian, the New Statesman, Cosmopolitan and the London Review of Books, among many others. Her writing on education includes Life Lessons.
Melissa Benn is a journalist, novelist and campaigner. She has written for the Guardian, the New Statesman, Cosmopolitan and the London Review of Books, among many others. Her writing on education includes Life Lessons.
Tony Benn (1925 - 2014) was a radical statesman, British Labour Party politician and political activist. He later served as President of the Stop the War Coalition from 2001 to 2014.
Melissa Benn is a journalist, novelist and campaigner. She has written for the Guardian, the New Statesman, Cosmo...
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