Tony Benn
We used to have a War Office, but now we have a Ministry of Defence, nuclear bombs are now described as deterrents, innocent civilians killed in war are now described as collateral damage and military incompetence leading to US bombers killing British soldiers is cosily described as friendly fire. Those who are in favour of peace are described as mavericks and troublemakers, whereas the real militants are those who want the war.Collection: Peace
The peace movement didn't stop the Iraq but I think that Blair would not be able to go along and support an Iranian war.Collection: War
I'd rather die on my feet making a speech than die of Alzheimer's - and that's what I'm planning to do.Collection: Alzheimer's
I think Mrs Thatcher did more damage to democracy, equality, internationalism, civil liberties, freedom in this country than any other Prime Minister this century. When the euphoria surrounding her departure subsides you will find that in a year or two's time there will not be a Tory who admits ever supporting her. People in the street will say, thank God she's goneCollection: Country
Having served in eleven Parliaments, it would be difficult to describe this as a maiden speech. It would be like Elizabeth Taylor appearing at her next wedding in a white gown.Collection: White
I am a public libraryCollection: Library
If ever I left the House of Commons it would be because I wanted to spend more time on politics.Collection: House
When we have a majority we will do it. I think the days of the Lords are quite genuinely numbered.Collection: Thinking
I don't want to commit myself in advocating a definite republican constitution which will get bogged down with the question of who would elect the President and when.Collection: President
In developing our industrial strategy for the period ahead, we have the benefit of much experience. Almost everything has been tried at least onceCollection: Benefits
The police are controlled by the whites, the media are controlled by the whites, the army's controlled by the whites, what hope is there for change? Administration changes from underneath.Collection: Police
The crisis that we inherit when we come to power will be the occasion for fundamental change and not the excuse for postponing itCollection: Fundamentals
Middle class Labour leaders are recaptured by the establishment when they die.Collection: Class
When you get to No 10, you've climbed there on a little ladder called 'the status quo'. And when you are there, the status quo looks very goodCollection: Looks
Workers are not going to be fobbed off with a few shares...or by a carbon copy of the German system of co-determination.Collection: Determination
Britain is the only colony in the British Empire and it is up to us now to liberate ourselves.Collection: Empires
The quickest way to get to the top in society probably is to be a Blair Babe now. And then all of a sudden you find you're invited to parties. I don't want to be cynical, because I'm not. But I've seen it happen to so many people who move from the left to the right so damn quickly.Collection: Party
I was radicalised by being a minister. That's when I saw how the system really worked. And that is not a very usual process, but it certainly happened to me: it gave me a lot more experience, it helped me to understand where power really lay, develop strategies for undermining or changing it, and so on. But that isn't the norm. Mr Gladstone moved to the left as he got older, and one or two other people have, but normally you swing the other way.Collection: People
There is no connection between imperialism and democracy. I mean when we ran an Empire which we did when I was born, there was no democracy anywhere.Collection: Mean
The flag of racialism which has been hoisted in Wolverhampton is beginning to look like the one that fluttered 25 years ago over Dachau and Belsen.Collection: Years
It's lovely to be old. I've got age, experience and zero personal ambition. No body could corrupt me by anything: possibly a job in the government, a peerage, a quango, I don't want any of it.Collection: Ambition
Some of the jam we thought was for tomorrow, we've already eatenCollection: Jam
The general election of 1983 has produced one important result that has passed virtually without comment in the media. It is that, for the first time since 1945, a political party with an openly socialist policy has received the support of over eight and a half million people. This is a remarkable development by any standards and it deserves some analysis ... the 1983 Labour manifesto commanded the loyalty of millions of voters and a democratic socialist bridge-head in public understanding and support can be made.Collection: Loyalty
My alternative to American superpower is the UN and I might add when China becomes the worlds greatest superpower you will need it too.Collection: World
It is tempting to deny, but if you deny you confirm what you won't deny.Collection: Deny
I sometimes wish the trade unionists who work in the mass media, those who are writers and broadcasters and secretaries and printers and lift operators of Thomson House would remember that they too are members of our working class movement and have a responsibility to see that what is said about us is true.Collection: Responsibility
When somebody comes up with a progressive idea, to begin with, you're mad, bonkers. Then if you go on, you're dangerous. Then there's a pause. Then you can't find anyone who can say they thought of it in the first place. That's how progress is made. This is why I do believe in the vote. In the end, all these people who've been tempted to the right realise the warning lights in their constituency are brighter than the bright lights from No. 10 offering them things.Collection: Believe
I really think in the Commonwealth of Europe you should have Russia. I listed a hundred countries that would be in it and it would then be a really European United Nations.Collection: Country
In the end, the tragedy of Harold Wilson was that you couldn't believe a word he saidCollection: Believe
I now want more time to devote to politics and more freedom to do so.Collection: Politics
Choice depends on the freedom to choose and if you are shackled with debt you don't have the freedom to choose.Collection: Choices
It is obvious I shall have to abandon my hopes of getting the Queen's head off the stamps.Collection: Queens
I did not enter the Labour Party 47 years ago to have our manifesto written by Dr Mori, Dr Gallup and Mr HarrisCollection: Party
People say that if we work for the Single European Act, women will get their rights, the water will be purer, and training will be better. That is rubbish. It is part of the attempt to consolidate the EEC.Collection: Rights
The present combination of corporate or commercial control theoretically answerable to politically appointed Boards of Governors is not in any sense a democratic enough procedure to control the power the broadcasters have.Collection: Boards
Cabinet members are soon overwhelmed by the insistent demands of running their departments. On the whole, a period in high office consumers intellectual capital; it does not create it....The less ministers know at the outset, the more dependent they are on the only sources of available knowledge; the permanent officials.Collection: Running
I do not share the general view that market forces are the basis of personal liberty.Collection: Views
I think if you do have democracy it would transform the world because if the millions of people who die live on a dollar a day, had the vote, they would redistribute the wealth of the world, and the people at the top are not prepared to see that happen.Collection: Thinking
Through me the energy policy of the whole Common Market is being held up. Without opening old wounds, it pleases me no end.Collection: Please Me
I think to understand how the democratic process works is the most important thing, so people don't get frightened by it, and get put off, and give up.Collection: Giving Up
The Civil Service is a bit like a rusty weathercock. It moves with opinion then it stays where it is until another wind moves it in a different directionCollection: Moving
Bush is actually encouraging the spread of nuclear weapons because the one thing I do know is if Iran did have nuclear weapons they wouldn't be threatening them.Collection: Threatening
I'm a democrat - I don't support Bush, I don't support Blair, I don't support Bin Laden.Collection: Support
If I were the American President I would rather be popular than have the power the destroy the world because however many puppets they have all over the Middle East - Saudi Arabia, Egypt and so on - they haven't got support from the people.Collection: People
If you want your debt lifted you've got to sell your school and your hospitals.Collection: School
I am not a reluctant peer but a persistent commonerCollection: Peers
If the Queen can reject the advice of a minister on a little thing like a postage stamp, what would happen if she rejected the advice of the Prime Minister on a major matter? If the Crown personally can reject advice, then, of course, the whole democratic facade turns out to be falseCollection: Queens
Marxism is now a world faith and must be allowed to enter into a continuous dialogue with other world faiths, including religious faithsCollection: Religious
Food movement organic food stores supplies health food products and facilitate with instrumental support in organic agriculture.Collection: Creativity