MPs to pay tributes to Tony Benn

Some of Benn’s children and grandchildren were in Parliament yesterday for the announcement from Speaker John Bercow that MPs will pay personal tributes to him in the House of Commons on Thursday.

Mr Bercow offered his own warm tribute to the late Mr Benn – former MP for Chesterfield –watched by two of his children, Leeds Central MP Hilary and Stephen, as well as one of his granddaughters, Emily Benn.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband will be given a chance to pay tribute tomorrow, Mr Bercow said, before MPs take part in a debate led by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday.

In a statement to MPs, Mr Bercow said: “It is my sad duty to have to report today to the House the death at the age of 88 of Tony Benn, who served in this House from 1950 with only very modest interruptions until 2001, representing over that period of half a century two Parliamentary constituencies, Bristol South East and Chesterfield, the first for 30 years and the second for approximately 17 years.

“Colleagues in all parts of the House will remember Tony Benn very well.

“For my part, I want to say I believe he was a man of deep socialist principle, of great integrity and of demonstrable passion and compassion, a brilliant parliamentarian, a brilliant platform speaker and a brilliant diarist.”

Mr Bercow reflected that when Mr Benn left the Commons he was, alongside at the time only former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, given the “freedom of the House”.

“It was a freedom he exercised,” Mr Bercow said.

Outlining the plans for tributes, he added: “I think it is right a book of condolence should be established and it has been.

“It sits in the library and it is there for MPs, staff of the House and MPs’ staff and others to sign.

“On Wednesday there will be an opportunity for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to pay tribute to Tony and on Thursday, after question time, a tributes session will be opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and responded to by the deputy leader of the Opposition.

“There will then be an opportunity for backbench MPs to record their own recollections and impressions of Tony Benn and the intention is that set of exchanges will be wound up by the shadow leader of the House (Angela Eagle) and by the Leader of the House (Andrew Lansley).”

The Speaker reflected it was a “very sad time” for the Benn family.

“I hope we will collectively want to extend our condolences to Tony’s children, two of whom I can see in my line of vision today, Hilary and Stephen, and to all of his grandchildren, and it’s a privilege to see Emily present today, and to all members of the family.”

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins made a point of order to highlight that books of condolence had also been opened in both of Mr Benn’s former constituencies.

The former cabinet Minister died at home at the age of 88 on Friday of last week following a long spell of ill-health.

He was survived by four children. His beloved wife Caroline, who supported him throughout his tempestuous political career, died late in the year 2000, after fighting a brave battle against cancer.