Tributes for ‘iconic’ ex-MP Benn

The former cabinet minister and MP for Chesterfield and Bristol, described as one the country’s most extraordinary and controversial political figures, died at his home surrounded by family members.

In a statement his son Hilary, MP for Leeds Central, and his siblings Stephen, 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.”

Mr Benn was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital in London at the beginning of February after feeling unwell, and returned to his home in west London on March 4.

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the Labour veteran on Twitter. He said: “Tony Benn was a magnificent writer, speaker and campaigner. There was never a dull moment listening to him, even if you disagreed with him.”

Labour MPs also took to the social network to pay warm tributes. Former cabinet minister Peter Hain said: “Tony Benn was a giant of socialism who encouraged me to join Labour in 1977: wonderful inspirational speaker and person: will be deeply missed.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to an “iconic figure of our age”. He said: “He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician.

“For someone of such strong views, often at odds with his party, he won respect from across the political spectrum.

“This was because of his unshakeable beliefs and his abiding determination that power and the powerful should be held to account.

“He believed in movements and mobilised people behind him for the causes he cared about, often unfashionable ones. In a world of politics that is often too small, he thought big about our country and our world.

Labour MP Dennis Skinner, who had known Mr Benn since 1970 and represents the Bolsover seat in Derbyshire neighbouring his former Chesterfield constituency, said: “He was one of the greatest assets the Labour Party has ever had. He was a campaigner and a teacher. His whole idea was about trying to influence people, not just in parliament but outside too.”

Former prime minister Sir John Major said: “Tony Benn was a true political warrior, who fought for what he believed - right up to the very end. Although he never led the Labour Party, he will always be remembered as a truly great parliamentarian.”

News presenter Natasha Kaplinsky, who struck up a warm but unlikely friendship with Tony Benn who was almost 50 years her senior, said she would miss the “endlessly kind and thoughtful man”.

The pair became close when Mr Benn was already in his 80s and he once wrote to a Fleet Street editor and jokingly rebuked them for suggesting it was nothing more than a “platonic relationship”.

Tony Benn’s death was marked yesterday in the two constituencies where he served as an MP.

A flag was flown at half mast at the town hall in Chesterfield, which he represented from 1984 to 2001, while in Bristol, where he was MP from 1950 to 1960 and from 1963 to 1983, a book of condolence was opened near the location of a statue of Mr Benn.

The Benn family say arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course. They said a number of queries had been received about where to place floral tributes, and that they should go on the north side of Parliament Square in London.