Tony Benn Quotes - Page 5

It is obvious I shall have to abandon my hopes of getting the Queen's head off the stamps.

The present combination of corporate or commercial control theoretically answerable to politically appointed Boards of Governors is not in any sense a democratic enough procedure to control the power the broadcasters have.

I do not share the general view that market forces are the basis of personal liberty.

It is government policy to phase out subsidies to nationalised industries. In line with this, the government hopes that the coal industry will be able to operate without the need for assistance apart from social grants.

I have had the advantage of a radical Christian upbringing

When I think of Cool Britannia I think of old people dying of hypothermia.

Making mistakes is how you learn.

We used to have a War Office, but now we have a Ministry of Defence, nuclear bombs are now described as deterrents, innocent civilians killed in war are now described as collateral damage and military incompetence leading to US bombers killing British soldiers is cosily described as friendly fire. Those who are in favour of peace are described as mavericks and troublemakers, whereas the real militants are those who want the war.

The peace movement didn't stop the Iraq but I think that Blair would not be able to go along and support an Iranian war.

If the Queen can reject the advice of a minister on a little thing like a postage stamp, what would happen if she rejected the advice of the Prime Minister on a major matter? If the Crown personally can reject advice, then, of course, the whole democratic facade turns out to be false

I'd rather die on my feet making a speech than die of Alzheimer's - and that's what I'm planning to do.

I am on the right wing of the middle of the road and with a strong radical bias.

I think Mrs Thatcher did more damage to democracy, equality, internationalism, civil liberties, freedom in this country than any other Prime Minister this century. When the euphoria surrounding her departure subsides you will find that in a year or two's time there will not be a Tory who admits ever supporting her. People in the street will say, thank God she's gone

Having served in eleven Parliaments, it would be difficult to describe this as a maiden speech. It would be like Elizabeth Taylor appearing at her next wedding in a white gown.

The peace movement here is the biggest thing in human history.

I am a public library

If ever I left the House of Commons it would be because I wanted to spend more time on politics.

I don't want to commit myself in advocating a definite republican constitution which will get bogged down with the question of who would elect the President and when.

When we have a majority we will do it. I think the days of the Lords are quite genuinely numbered.

The exhaustion of old age is something people who are younger don't fully appreciate.

In developing our industrial strategy for the period ahead, we have the benefit of much experience. Almost everything has been tried at least once

The crisis that we inherit when we come to power will be the occasion for fundamental change and not the excuse for postponing it

The police are controlled by the whites, the media are controlled by the whites, the army's controlled by the whites, what hope is there for change? Administration changes from underneath.

Middle class Labour leaders are recaptured by the establishment when they die.

When you get to No 10, you've climbed there on a little ladder called 'the status quo'. And when you are there, the status quo looks very good