Most young lefties shake off their bizarre beliefs as they get older.
But one man who that didn't apply to was WWII veteran Tony Benn. His left wing beliefs just kept getting stronger.
The pipe-smoking, pizza-loving socialist, friend of Arthur Scargill and leader of the Stop The War Coalition (he did have a redeeming quality, though. He was anti-EU), who was a Labour MP for 50 years and whose socialist policies would have crippled Britain had he got the chance to implement them (he earned the nickname "the most dangerous man in Britain"), died at his home in west London in the early hours of this morning at the age of 88 surrounded by his family.
In a statement his children Stephen, Hilary (the MP for Leeds Central and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government), Melissa and Joshua said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce that our father Tony Benn died peacefully early this morning at his home in west London surrounded by his family.
'We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff and carers who have looked after him with such kindness in hospital and at home."
Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of his sorrow at the death of a man he described as a 'magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner'.
At the opposite end of the political spectrum to Benn but, like Benn, a Eurosceptic, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: 'I found Tony Benn personally engaging and highly entertaining. We shared a birthday and we used to joke about that.
'Tony was also one of the few people I have ever known who totally ignored the ban on smoking in public places. He used to tell me that given that he was in his eighties he didn’t think anyone would make a fuss.
'Naturally we disagreed about many things. But on the fundamental question of democracy and a nation’s right to self-government we were completely at one. Britain has lost a giant political figure and my thoughts today are with his family.'
Born Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn on 3 April 1925, Benn famously renounced his peerage to remain in the Commons.
He was described as the 'most dangerous man in Britain' in the 1980s, but was voted the UK's 'political hero' by viewers of the BBC's Daily Politics programme in 2007.
He joined the Labour Party in 1943, the same year he joined the RAF to fight in the war, and became an MP seven years later, winning the Bristol South-East by-election after the death of Sir Stafford Cripps in 1950.
He missed out on the deputy leadership of the Labour Party in 1981, under Michael Foot.
Fairly moderate at the start, Benn became more hard-line as his career progressed, until, by the time he retired in 2001 'to devote more time to politics', he was one of the most radical politicians in his party.
He put forward the Commonwealth of Britain Bill to abolish the monarchy in 1992. It failed.
In later life, Benn was appointed President of Stop the War Coalition and campaigned vigorously against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said: ‘I hate war. War is murder, rape, torture and plunder. But I’m not a pacifist. I believe in the right of self-defence. I joined the RAF in the war (in 1943 where he served as a pilot officer in South Africa and Rhodesia) but didn’t get my wings until the end so never had to kill anyone.’
He was famously spoofed when he was interviewed by Ali G (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) who asked: 'Does the welfare not just encourage young girls to go out and get jiggy with Mr Biggy?'
Great and good pay tribute to veteran politician Tony Benn, famous for his pipe, diaries and love of tea, who has died aged 88
Veteran Labour politician dies at home in west London at the age of 88
His father and grandfather were both politicians and peers
He famously renounced his peerage to remain in the Commons
Was later appointed President of the Stop The War Coalition and described war as 'murder, rape, torture and plunder'
Benn had four children with wife Caroline, one of whom, Hilary, is Labour MP
By James Rush and Harriet Arkell and Thomas Burrows
14 March 2014
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn has died at home today at the age of 88, his family has said in a statement
Tributes poured in for veteran Labour politician Tony Benn today after he died at home at the age of 88.
Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of his sorrow at the death of a man he described as a 'magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner'.
The former cabinet minister died this morning at his home in west London surrounded by family members.
In a statement his children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce that our father Tony Benn died peacefully early this morning at his home in west London surrounded by his family.
'We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff and carers who have looked after him with such kindness in hospital and at home.
'We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives.
'But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world for the better.
'Arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course.'
Mr Cameron said: 'I am sorry to hear that Tony Benn has died.
'He was a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner, with a strong record of public and political service. There was never a dull moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with everything he said.'
Labour leader Ed Miliband said he had last seen Benn two weeks ago in hospital, when he was 'ailing in body but sharp as ever in mind'.
As I left he said to me "Well, old son. Let's have a proper talk when you have more time",' he remembered.
He said Benn was an 'iconic figure of our age', adding: 'He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician.
'Tony Benn spoke his mind and spoke up for his values. Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone knew where he stood and what he stood for.'
Benn making a tribute speech in parliament to Mandela after his death
A Member of Parliament for 50 years, Benn, who died today, was a popular and charismatic politician
Benn, seen here addressing an anti-war rally in Trafalgar Square in 2002, was a fervent peace campaigner
Benn, pictured at his home in October 2013, joined the House of Commons as an MP for Bristol South East in 1950, but was prevented from being an MP when he became the second Viscount Stansgate, after his father's death in 1960. He renounced the peerage to become an MP again
Tribute: People took to Twitter this morning to speak of a politician with 'charisma and sense of purpose'
'Passionate and fair': Pscyhoanalyst Susie Orbach described Benn as a 'fighter against class injustice and colonialism'
Mr Miliband said Benn 'won respect from across the political spectrum'.
Nigel Farage said: 'I found Tony Benn personally engaging and highly entertaining. We shared a birthday and we used to joke about that.
'Tony was also one of the few people I have ever known who totally ignored the ban on smoking in public places. He used to tell me that given that he was in his eighties he didn’t think anyone would make a fuss.
'Naturally we disagreed about many things. But on the fundamental question of democracy and a nation’s right to self-government we were completely at one. Britain has lost a giant political figure and my thoughts today are with his family.'
David Cameron, seen with Benn in 2007, said he was 'a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner'
Benn, seen here with National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill, backed the miners' strike in 1984-1985
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'Politics will be duller with his passing.
'Tony Benn was a great democrat - even if his economic policies were eccentric. He once told me, the key question to ask anyone in power: "Who elected you - and how can I vote to remove you from office?"
'That, as he rightly said, is the question that needs to be asked of Brussels today.'
Former prime minister Tony Blair said: 'Tony Benn was one of those rare things - a genuine radical for all his life. He was a fearless campaigner and a legendary figure for the Labour movement.
'He was a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner... there was never a dull moment listening to him'
David Cameron on Tony Benn
David Cameron on Tony Benn
'Even when I disagreed with him, I always had enormous respect for his brilliance, his passion and his commitment to the people of Britain and of the world. My thoughts are with his family - with whom he was very close.'
Born Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn on 3 April 1925, Benn famously renounced his peerage to remain in the Commons.
He was described as the 'most dangerous man in Britain' in the 1980s, but was voted the UK's 'political hero' by viewers of the BBC's Daily Politics programme in 2007.
He joined the Labour Party in 1943, and became an MP seven years later, winning the Bristol South-East by-election after the death of Sir Stafford Cripps in 1950.
Fairly moderate at the start, Benn became more hard-line as his career progressed, until, by the time he retired in 2001 'to devote more time to politics', he was one of the most radical politicians in his party.
He put forward the Commonwealth of Britain Bill to abolish the monarchy in 1992.
In later life, Benn was appointed President of Stop the War Coalition and campaigned vigorously against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said: ‘I hate war. War is murder, rape, torture and plunder. But I’m not a pacifist. I believe in the right of self-defence. I joined the RAF in the war (in 1943 where he served as a pilot officer in South Africa and Rhodesia) but didn’t get my wings until the end so never had to kill anyone.’
His older brother Michael died in the war, while serving with the RAF. ‘I got the telegram at the beginning of an RAF training class about weather and I had to sit there for an hour and then I went outside and wept.'
Benn was born into politics. His grandfather, John Benn, was a Liberal MP. His father, William Benn, was a Liberal and then Labour MP and Secretary of State for India.
Having studied at Westminster School, Benn read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at New College, Oxford, and was elected President of the Oxford Union in 1947 – a position also held by politicians such as Michael Foot, William Hague and Boris Johnson.
In later life, Benn was appointed President of Stop the War Coalition and campaigned vigorously against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
He joined the House of Commons as an MP for Bristol South East in 1950, but was prevented from being an MP when he became the second Viscount Stansgate, after his father's death in 1960.
Benn fought to change the law and was the first to renounce his peerage, which was crucial in the creation of the Peerage Act in 1963.
Having returned to the Commons, Benn was made Postmaster General where he oversaw the opening of the Post Office Tower – then the UK's tallest building.
He later served as a Cabinet minster under Harold Wilson, who commented that he 'immatured with age.'
Benn, a vegetarian and obsessive tea-drinker, befriended people from opposite ends of the political spectrum. He was friends with Conservative politician Enoch Powell (and supported his stance on Europe), but was a prominent supporter of the UK miners' strike and close friend of leader, Arthur Scargill.
Tony Benn at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, on October 1, 1979
British Labour Leader of the Opposition Michael Foot (left) with Labour MP Tony Benn in their seats at the House of Commons during the State opening of Parliament, London, on November 20 1980
He was famously spoofed when he was interviewed by Ali G who asked: 'Does the welfare not just encourage young girls to go out and get jiggy with Mr Biggy?'
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