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Benn speaking at the Glastonbury Festival in 2008. Photo by Gingerblokey –

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Tony Benn

Tony Benn is considered to be one of the greatest politicians to ever live. He was born in Westminster, London, on 3 April 1925 and had two siblings: Michael and David.

His father, William Benn, was in the liberal party as well as a Member of Parliament in 1906. He then changed to the Labor party in 1928. In 1929, William was appointed as the secretary of state of India by Ramsay MacDonald.

On the other hand, Tony Benn was a staunch Christian, having practised it for more than 30 years. According to Tony, bible teachings had a radical influence on his life. He passed on in 2014.

Read on to know more about Tony Benn in the top 10 amazing facts below.

1. Tony Benn came from a very prominent political lineage

Tony Benn speaking at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival and Rally 2012. Photo by Rwendland –

Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers were Liberal Party MPs. His paternal grandfather, John Benn, was a successful politician while his maternal grandfather, Daniel Holmes, was the MP for Glasgow Govan.

His grandfather, Benn, was also a baronet in 1914. Additionally, he founded a publishing company called Benn brothers.

As a youngster, Tony met with Prime minister Ramsay MacDonald when he was five years old. Tony later described the Prime Minister as a kind old gentleman who offered him a bar of chocolate.

Likewise, he met former Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George when he was 12. Another famous politician that Tony met was Mahatma Gandhi in 1931. This happened when he went to India where his father was the secretary of state.

2. Benn joined and trained with the home guard

During World War II, Benn joined and trained with the home guard when he was 16. He learnt how to use a bayonet, a rifle, a revolver and a grenade.  

In July 1943, Benn enlisted in the royal air force as an aircraftman 2nd Class. Additionally, his father and elder brother Michael (who later died in an accident) were already serving in the RAF.

Tony was granted an emergency commission as a pilot officer. While serving as a pilot officer, he went to South Africa and Rhodesia in June 1944.

During the war, Tony鈥檚 dilemma was whether he was a freedom fighter or a terrorist. In 1945, Benn resigned after World War II.  

3. To Tony, education was an ongoing process rather than something that someone is done with

A boy in a library. Photo by Redd on

After attending Mr Gladstone鈥檚 day school near Sloane Square, Benn joined Westminster school. Later, he went to Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics.

In 1947, Tony was elected as the president of the Oxford Union. Several years later, Tony removed public references to his private education from who鈥檚 who.

All references to Westminster School were removed in 1970, his entry stated “Education鈥攕till in progress” in 1975.

Then in the school鈥檚 1977 edition, Benn’s entry disappeared entirely. He was listed as Tony Benn in 1983 I the Who’s Who list. There is no reference to his education or service record.

4. Benn was a vegetarian

Sliced vegetables and fruits. Photo by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden on

Benn and his wife Caroline became vegetarian in 1970. This change was purely for ethical reasons. They remained vegetarians for the rest of their lives.

He also said that his son鈥檚 decision to be a vegetarian was important.

5. Tony Benn was the youngest MP for one day

On 30^th November 1950, Benn won a parliamentary seat in a by-election. He had gotten help from Anthony Crosland who was the MP for nearby south Gloucestershire.

His swearing-in happened on 4^th December 1950. His entry into Parliament saw him become the 鈥榖aby of the house since he was the youngest. This was a position he held for just a day.

The title then went to Thomas Teevan who was two years younger than Benn, Thomas was sworn in a day after Tony Benn. 

Interestingly, Tony went to being the 鈥榖aby of the house鈥� a year later since Teevan was not re-elected.

6. Benn fought for the rights of black British and Asian drivers

Photo by Koshu Kunii on

While working as the MP for Bristol South East, Benn helped organise the 1963 Bristol bus boycott.

The boycott was against the colour bar of the Bristol omnibus company that refused to employ black British and British Asian drivers.  

Benn said that he stayed off the buses and opted to find a bike. Likewise, another Labour leader Harold Wilson also told of his pleasure in learning that the anti-apartheid rally had boycotted the buses too.

7. He was pro-nuclear war but later in life opposed it

During Benn’s time as energy minister from 1975 to 1979, he supported the United kingdom鈥檚 use of nuclear power. However, later in his life, he opposed the use of nuclear power.

In his defence, Benn said that it was not cheap, safe or peaceful. 

When asked what led to the change of mind, Tony said “Nuclear power, for example. In 1955 when Eisenhower said he was going for 鈥楢toms for Peace鈥� I became a passionate supporter of it. Having been brought up on the Bible I liked the idea of swords into ploughshares.

I later discovered it wasn鈥檛 cheap, wasn鈥檛 safe and when I left the office I was told that during my period as Secretary of State for Energy, plutonium from our nuclear power stations went to the Pentagon to make nuclear weapons鈥�.

8. He was in support of the LGBT movement

Photo by Ian Taylor on

Benn supported various LGBT social movements, which were then known as gay liberation. Benn had voted in favour of decriminalization in 1967. 

He mentioned section 28 of the 1988 local government act, a piece of anti-gay legislation preventing the 鈥減romotion of homosexuality鈥�.

Ben was quoted saying that 鈥�if the sense of the word 鈥榩romote鈥� can be read across from “describe”, every murder play promotes murder, every war play promotes war, every drama involving the eternal triangle promotes adultery, and Mr Richard Branson’s condom campaign promotes fornication“.

Benn later voted for the repeal of Section 28 during the first term of Tony Blair鈥檚 new Labour Government.  

9. Tony Benn strongly objected to the bombing of Iraq

Benn viewed the bombing of Iraq as immoral and alleged that whoever supported it was in favour of innocent civilians being killed.

His famous quote was 鈥�Aren’t Arabs terrified? Aren’t Iraqis terrified? Don’t Arab and Iraqi women weep when their children die? Does bombing strengthen their determination? Every Member of Parliament tonight who votes for the government motion will be consciously and deliberately accepting the responsibility for the deaths of innocent people if the war begins, as I fear it will.”

10. He was the first MP to table a motion against apartheid in South Africa

Tony Benn(Right) shaking hands with  Maurice Papon(Left) during the official presentation of Concorde, 11 December 1967. Photo by Andr茅 Cros –

Tony鈥檚 activism in this area is plausible. He was secretary of the Movement for Colonial Freedom, founded in 1954 when many African countries were still British colonies.

Additionally, Tony was the first MP to table a motion against apartheid in South Africa. Likewise, he was a prominent supporter of justice for Palestine and called for an end to all arms sales to Israel.

Benn also led the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament from its formation and later became the president of the 鈥淪top the War Coalition鈥�.