BENN is a 62-year-old Labour politician and has been the MP for Leeds Central since 1999. He is currently Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Born in London, he studied Russian and East European Studies at the University of Sussex. He then worked for two trade unions, starting his political career as a Labour councillor on Ealing Borough Council. Following his party’s 1997 General Election victory under Tony Blair, he worked as a special advisor to David Blunkett, the then-education secretary, before winning his Westminster seat in a by-election.
Who was Hilary Benn’s father?
Benn’s father Anthony Neil Wedgewood Benn – or Tony Benn – was a leading left-of-centre figure in the Labour party and in British political life. He had a successful front-bench career in Harold Wilson’s government and was a key ally of former Labour leader Michael Foot.
Tony Benn stood down from his Bristol South East seat in 2001 after the first term of Tony Blair’s government to “spend more time on politics”.He latterly rose to prominence for his campaign against the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He died in March last year aged 88.
Why is everyone talking about Hilary Benn?
On Wednesday night Hilary Benn sat beside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons and gave his party’s closing speech – opposing Corbyn’s views and backing the Government’s case for air strikes against Daesh targets in Syria.
He put his case powerfully and was applauded by the Tories and by some Labour MPs, but also received substantial criticism from politicians and activists opposed to the strikes.
Interviewed yesterday morning, Alex Salmond said Tony Benn would be “birling in his grave” over his son’s speech in favour of bombing Syria.
Could Hilary Benn be the next UK Labour leader?
Within minutes of making his speech pundits were speculating over whether Benn could be the next Labour leader. Many said he could unite a party that has failed to unite behind Jeremy Corbyn.
However, Corbyn was elected with an overwhelming mandate from the grassroots – most of whom are against RAF bombing in Syria.
They are unlikely to forget Benn’s failure to support Corbyn on the historic vote.
Tim Dalyell: Tony Benn would turn in grave at his son’s speech
Prime Minister urges UK to be patient as intervention in Syria ‘will take time’
Petition against air strikes gets 80,000 signatures in a day
Vonny Moyes: Few crumbs of comfort in bombs at breakfast
Patrick Harvie: There are other ways to strike at Daesh
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp: Westminster: Out of touch, out of date, out of time...
The National View: Bombs over Syria demonstrate UK’s willingness to act in ignorance yet again
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