Tony Benn and Bob Crow

The London Socialist Historians Group which convenes the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historical Research in London has paid tribute to Tony Benn as one of the too few politicians who understood the historical context in which they operated.
The historians say Benn’s Diaries are an important historical source but Benn’s life, lived in full awareness of the historical relationship between organised Labour and Parliamentary democracy provides an important guide for future activists.
Tony Benn spoke at the London Socialist Historians conference on the history of the vote and kept in touch with thoughts and pointers for research projects.
LSHG convenor Keith Flett said Tony Benn had a real sense of the importance of history and indeed in successfully renouncing his peerage made history. That is a too rare thing amongst politicians.
His real legacy in this sense must be to inspire present and future activists to have the same sense of history and its importance for current activity as he had.

See also Keith Flett's tribute to the late, great RMT leader and socialist Bob Crow - condolences for Crow can be signed here.