THE BEST LEADER WE NEVER HAD

Watching Question Time last night I was reminded of why Tony Benn was (and is ) head and shoulders above any of his contemporaries in the Labour Party. At nearly 82, he is still sharp as a tack, erudite and deeply impressive whatever he is talking about. Last night's discussion on Iraq showed him on absolutely top form. There was a telling moment when the camera suddenly switched from Benn to Des Browne, who didn't know he was on camera. Browne clearly agreed with every word Benn was saying but of course was there to parrot the Government line that Iraq is not an unmitigated disaster and that the world is a safer place because we have got rid of Saddam.
The worst decision Tony Benn ever made was not to switch to a safer seat in 1983 ,when boundary changes made his Bristol constituency marginal. He lost , and we lost the best leader we would ever have had. Kinnock was elected instead and the rest is now New Labour history.
The scandal of a Labour , a LABOUR Chancellor punishing the poor for the sake of a good Sun headline is one which I hope returns to haunt him. Preferably at the leadership election.