“Guess what you’re going to be today ..”
Tony Benn, whose death has just been announced, started life as a member of the aristocracy and ended it a commoner. In this regard he was the exact opposite of Kate Middleton.
After founding the Monster Raving Loony Party under the pseudonym of Screaming Lord Sutch, he renounced his peerage, moved further to the left and become a member of Harold Wilson’s Labour Government of the 1960’s. As Postmaster General he was responsible for ensuring enough gum was applied to postage stamps and having the Post Office Tower built entirely of Lego bricks.
A noted original political thinker and great orator, he made frequent appearances on shows such as Question Time well into his eighties. “Everyone listened when Tony spoke” said David Dimbleby, paying tribute. “Of course, it was total bollocks, but everyone listened.”
Benn was famous for his trademark pipe, flask of tea and bowler hat which he acquired after becoming a commoner. This was later immortalised in the BBC TV series ‘Mr Benn’ which was based upon his life. In each episode, Benn would go into a changing room, smoke wacky baccy and dream up unworkable socialist ideas.
It is believed that Postman Pat was also based upon Benn’s time as Postmaster General, something he always denied, insisting that his cat was named Jessica not Jess.
Benn will be always remembered with affection not only by the public, but also by the press who filled page after page with mostly made up stories warning of how Benn would ruin the country with his loony left Marxist sympathies. Which is ironic, really, since the country was actually ruined by a bunch of people from the loony centre.
In later life, Benn acquired National Treasure status, which meant hoards of people would visit him on Sunday afternoons, eat cream cakes and walk around his garden. [No, that’s The National Trust, idiot! Ed]
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