Tony Benn speaks in favour of a referendum

[LeamingtonSteve]

i dont agree with all his politics, but he is on the nail here

[LeamingtonSteve]

good points, Tony!

[fleemonstay]

All this back in 2007, how about that. Not on board with the nationalist views of industry (he's taken a very BNP line here), but unfortunately his former party is part of the problem, right now UKIP is the only party to lead for Britain.

[iainmclaughlan1975]

excellent, powers are lent to Parliament..

[SarahAntsez]

You see , this is why I'm proud to be British .. UK Ip and the far left liberal.. of the labour party united ! xxxx vote NO to BNP ... they're racist idiots xx

[matchbox555]

the people are too stupid to be given too much democracy

[ukipwebmaster]

@matchbox555 There speaks an incipient dictator....

[basch2020]

@ukipwebmaster Some people are too stupid/incompetant for such a responsibility. Just watch Jeremy Kyle - do you really want these people deciding how the country is run!? The right to vote should be earned.

[ukipwebmaster]

@basch2020 We are already being screwed over by an elite because people don't bother to vote.

[hablerz]

@basch2020 Thats due to the elite destroying the British education system , and really anyone intelligent shouldn't even be watching that trash. Or any TV at all for that matter these days.

[royalecraig]

The Surrender of Sovereignty is unlawfull under our Constitution, no one has the authority to do it, are you seriously suggesting we gamble with something so precious, do you not know how much fraud there is in this country.Would it not be beyond the NWO to fix the vote, the danger is we demand a referendum and they fix the vote. We need to get out, not have a Referendum.

[TheChadley1000]

The man is brilliant! Problem is, what can we do to sort this shit out?

[TheCommandress]

Whether you completely agree with him, are indifferent to his views, or totally disagree with him, it's hard to deny that this man is a TRUE believer in democracy - and as such a real rarity in contemporary British politics, I think.

Mr Benn has always been a hero of mine, mainly because of his honesty, passion and eloquence - and still-sharp mind.

[Summerbkh]

I completely agree with you. He is a brilliant upright man.

[JackEpiphoneLP]

@TheCommandress

I couldn't agree with you more!

[ywrtywto09]

I don't really believe in referendums (I think they are undemocratic), but anyway if were to have, surely it should get in line as we still haven't had the one on electoral reform Labour promised in their first (97) manifesto.

[ukipwebmaster]

Voting is undemocratic?

[ywrtywto09]

Not voting, just referendums.

If you wish to know why, then go to Wikipedia find the entry for referendums and read the criticism section, there are to many points to list here.

[hablerz]

@ukipwebmaster Priceless.

[TheOneAndOnlySooty]

No matter what people say referendums are true democracy because they give people a say on a single issue. Allot of issues including europe are not truely left or right issues so democracy on such an issue is not valid purely on a vote for a political party.

[lithfrasir]

they are sellng the last scaps of British liberty out the back door.

[ukipwebmaster]

And it looks as if the remaining assets will go as well..........

[StopBelievingTheLies]

"You can't defy the public forever on really big issues" - I wish I had his optimism. Now that the Irish have voted yes, I doubt Vaclav Klaus can hold out much longer. This is an Orwellian nightmare & most of the public know absolutely nothing about it! Come on Brits! Speak up before it's too late.

[Andrea2rose]

Come back Tony Benn.  You're still good and you are all there!

[Kryton001]

NO REFERENDUM = NO DEMOCRACY

[Kryton001]

respect

[epiphany55]

The left-right dichotomy is an illusion. If you are a democrat you oppose the EU as it currently stands.

[soundnicetome]

Go to '50 reasons to leave the EU' You will understand why Tony Benn is worried about the future of our country !! If UTube show this I will be surprised. All our comments are being scrutinised.If comments are not to their liking,your comments are suppressed.

[soundnicetome]

Go to '50 reasons to leave the EU'.I think you will understand why Tony Benn is so worried about this countrys future.People UNITE !!!!

[bumisworld]

why dont ordinary brittish people have a say in things that effect their life? here in uk?...referendums should be allowed on certain decishions...but they dont believe in power to the people, they want us to give them our power by voting for them,

[duxberry1958]

we such say tony wedewood benn wankie

[TheSpineyOne]

Could you repeat that in English please?

[hplaserjet2001]

You must be a very sad person to speak of Mr Benn in such a disrespectful manner.

I hope you find peace, happiness and love in your life.

[TonyMontana2003]

I could listen to Tony Benn all day. Such an inspirational man.

[svengalie]

I don't pretend to understand politics. But if this is all true....Then surely the conservatives, or the lib dems would be in uproar, they'd have a field day?

Are the public ill informed? Why is there no (real) outcry?

I don't get it...

[kzearo]

Well the Lib Dems have always been a euro-fanatical party, which I find seems to conflict with their claim of being 'liberal' and 'democratic'.

As for the Tories, well if anyone other than David Cameron had won the leadership contest a few years ago, then the party would be in 'uproar'. But the new, modernised Conservative party led by Cameron would rather avoid conflict like this and not upset Guardian journalists.

[kzearo]

It's also important to note that Dave is getting rather friendly with European and World leaders, and now that he's started to detect the sweet smell of election success, he'd rather not tarnish his relationships with his new friends by showing distaste for the EU.

The Conservative Party ceased to be a principled party when Cameron was elected to be leader in 2005. It is now a party controlled by the self-interested political class.

[TheSpineyOne]

To say the Tories ceased to be a principled party is to suggest it once was. They always have been a reactionary party aiming to preserve class privelige using whatever means necessary. Thatcher claimed to stand for small government, individuality and honesty yet was quite willing to use (and enhance) the power of the state, in addition to the propaganda of Rupert Murdoch.

The crisis in British Democracy is a result of the other parties becoming more Tory like, not the other way around.

[pompeyboi]

I don't like Benn's politics generally, but on this issue he is spot on.

[primuschimpus]

I can't believe some people on here are saying that he wouldn't be saying this if he was in government. Are you lot mad?

Have you listened to the speeches he made even so far back as 20 years ago, when he was in Parliament?

Have you not heard how he campaigned for more transparency and direct elections to the EU (instead of appointed Commissioners), amongst many other matters to shake up the EU?

He has always been consistent with what he believes, which is why he is so admired.

[xpat73]

I have always voted Conservative but have always admired Benn as a thoughtful, articulate and steadfast and unwaverng in his views and ideology.

[royalecraig]

Tony may be A socialist but I think he's a great believer in Democracy.

[TheSpineyOne]

The two are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, if we take democracy to its logical conclusion socialism is inevitable. (Real socialism, not what McCarthy, Reagan et al would have you define it as).

[theredraven]

But will we ever have "real socialism"? Humans don't seem to be able to comprehend many of the ideas involved.

[dartaddict]

Tony Benn should have been the PM.

[lisahiheels]

If only we would have voted labour in 1983 when weggie the twat benn was commited to withdrall. life would be so much better now, there would be no crime and all the people would wear flowers in their noses and no one would have smelly feet.

[ukipwebmaster]

Do they "wear flowers in their noses" because of the "smelly feet"?

[barnab99]

as opposed to the current situation where:

innocent women and children are being murdered in the middle east at the hands of our troops,

teachers and nurses have to march for decent wages,

none of the parties stand 4 anything different,

hospitals and post offices are being closed down by the dozen,

billionnaires get off without paying their fair share of tax...

All these things r wrong, but Benn is 1 of the few pple with the courage 2 speak out against them nd 4 justice

[shakercoola]

Listen up folks, this might be a very salient point in years to come. We lost what it took hundreds of years to ascertain.....true democracy.

[moorec]

I may not agree with him about capitalism but he is so right on this point

[LastOfTheDiehards]

god help us when we lose the likes of tony benn, labour has only a few left, respect is the future of british socialism.

[ozzerdibazio]

airscrew; Tony Benn would be saying this if he was in government. Did you watch the video; he details the relationship he had with government and Europe and how it did sit well with him. Tony was and is a formidable, succint and wholly honset man. It is important to remember that.

[airscrew1]

I wonder if Tony Benn would be saying all this if he was in the government? His son Hilary is pro Europe, I wonder why? Tony is a good speaker but I see all politicians as worms that turn when it suits them.

[chrish12345]

agree with every word of this

[MrSabre11]

god help us when we have no more politicians like Tony Benn left.

[ukipwebmaster]

Today's modern politician is an interchangeable career chaser with no principles.

[toastedpiano]

Benn is an absolute national treasure. He's right, some people are against the EU beacuase of the regulation and the costs of membership, but it's the lack of democracy and accountability that has led to this.

[shakercoola]

The World Trade Organisation and IMF are non-democratic organisations but have enormous influence on governments and the European Commission. Benn speaks with great clarity here and at first hand experience. He is the greates exponent of democracy I have ever come across. I had the pleasure of meeting hime - a great man.

[skintrade]

Top vid!

[lurkswiss]

I met him and he called me comrade I was (and still am) very proud!

[storinge]

Tony Benn is quite right to talk about their "dirty little deals". It's because the good citizens of France and The Netherlands voted no, our political masters have decided to bypass the democratic process. This is the dirtiest deal of all. This is tyranny!

[storinge]

Well said!

[ViewPointUK]

Wow! Fantastic clarity of arguement!

[AlexGMcKee]

He gave up a peerage to stand for the House of Commons. Now that's conviction in his beliefs.

So many modern Labour politicians are doing the opposite!

[gavinayling]

I am not a socialist but I believe what Tony Benn says and I wish more politicians were like him. He was great at the Bloomsbury too

[tito2502]

Tony Benn is a far better politician than his son.

[skulls23]

i love Tony Benn god bless him hes a true politician and if i had more cash i would have a statue of him made becouse hes one of the true people that stands for us all