Perhaps it’s funny, but I can recollect two politicians whose idiological positions were diametrically opposed – Tony Benn was one, the other was Enoch Powell – with whose views I did not agree, but for whom I had immense respect. That was because they were not shallow men, were committed to their positions and could argue those in a convincing manner. It’s sad that as time has passed, such men (and women) have become fewer in number – on your side of the Channel as well as mine – to the extent that, these days, there are few, if any, politicians of whom I can say that I have respect!
I think I read somewhere that Harold Wilson regarded Benn as his natural successor and that the leadership would have been his if only he became a little more moderate. Love him or loathe him, at least he stuck to his guns and as AA suggests that’s exceptionally rare in politics. Didn’t he also give up a seat in the lords (as Viscount Stansgate) because he didn’t/doesn’t believe in the hereditary peerage system. (‘Scuse me while I pop over to Wiki…)
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